INEOS still needs to strengthen the key position that Man City-bound Semenyo would have effortlessly consolidated – Man United News And Transfer News | The People’s Person

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After missing out on Antoine Semenyo, many Manchester United fans are now urging the club to prioritize a midfielder.

But while attention remains focused on whether INEOS will take that advice to heart, there is a danger that they may miss the issue that Semenyo initially wanted to address.

Semenyo looked at left back

It has since emerged that had Semenyo been signed, he would not have been exclusively limited to the left-back role as initially suggested. Nevertheless, United were clearly hoping he could elevate that position.

The midfield was reasonable

United’s midfield was not at its best. But the experience and quality of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro have enabled United head coach Ruben Amorim to put together a functioning engine room.

While the midfield has remained relatively stable, the left wing-back has consistently proven to be a major disappointment.

LWB struggles

Between Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu, the performances in that role were erratic and unreliable. Given the importance of the full-back in Amorim’s system, such instability is detrimental.

In the Portuguese tactician’s approach, full-backs are the driving force behind the attack: they stretch the play, create overload, deliver goals and assists and transition seamlessly from a back five to a front five. Essentially, they are expected to operate as both full-backs and wingers and meet enormous physical and technical demands.

Amad Diallo is perhaps the only United player to have mastered the role. Dalot, meanwhile, is showing flashes of brilliance, but as the defeat to Aston Villa underlined, he remains far more effective on the right than on the left.

Upgrade on Dorgu

United therefore need a real upgrade for Dorgu. With Manchester City’s Semenyo off the table, INEOS must now focus on alternatives.

Encouragingly, United have already been linked with two capable options: Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nathaniel Brown.

If the Red Devils are willing to spend the £65 million earmarked for Semenyo on one of these full-backs, such an investment could easily tempt policymakers at St James’ Park or Deutsche Bank Park.

Bringing balance to the team

Securing a reliable left wing-back would bring some much-needed balance to this squad and prevent United from becoming too reliant on the right flank.

A dynamic partnership could be forged between the newcomer and Matheus Cunha, similar to the dangerous Bryan Mbeumo-Amad Diallo combination on the other wing.

Undoubtedly, a bold and decisive signing this winter could lay the foundation for United to mount a real top-four challenge.

And with full-backs firing once Amad returns from AFCON, United could finally find the balance between attack and defense, which would pose real problems for their rivals.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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