Category: Man United’

Old Trafford Night
Manchester United have been in poor form this season, with many of their key players underperforming. However, Lisandro Martínez has stood out as their best player, scoring a goal away at Liverpool and netting the winner against Fulham in the Premier League recently.

Sadly, he has now suffered an ACL injury, ending his season prematurely. Furthermore, the South American defender is likely to miss the first few months of next season as well.

To address this, United brought in Ayden Heaven during the winter window. However, Heaven is a left-footed center-back with no experience at the top level, so he cannot be relied upon to replace Martínez’s influence.

According to German outlet Sport Bild, United are considering the possibility of signing a new left-sided defender and have shown interest in RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba. The player’s agent has been seeking options to help him advance his career, and United have already made initial contact regarding a potential deal.

The 22-year-old recently signed an extension with Leipzig, which includes a hefty £75m release clause. Additionally, Lukeba is attracting interest from Liverpool, Chelsea, and even Real Madrid, who were eyeing him to strengthen their defense last summer.

Lukeba has had a challenging season with injuries, making just 10 league starts and keeping seven clean sheets.

Despite Martínez’s injury, United still have depth at center-back after signing Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro last summer. If they decide to let go of Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans next summer, as both players’ contracts are set to expire, bringing in another center-back could be essential.

That being said, Ruben Amorim’s side is reportedly facing financial issues and has been making staff cutbacks. This raises the question of whether it would be wise to spend £75m on Lukeba under these circumstances.

 

Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan believes that Manchester United minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe may prefer to build a new stadium rather than redevelop Old Trafford. Reports indicate that constructing a new purpose-built stadium could cost up to £2 billion, but Jordan, writing in his Daily Mail column, argues that Ratcliffe might opt for a plan that not only future-proofs the club but also generates higher revenue:

“Ratcliffe will understand that building a stadium must be accompanied by on-field progress. One must drive the other, not hinder it. He’s an innovator. He builds things, so it’s logical that to achieve the ambition he has for United and the legacy he aims to leave, constructing a more expansive and advanced home for the club will be the central focus.”

“The crucial decision for United is whether to redevelop and expand the current stadium to 87,000 or create something entirely new and even larger. I would lean toward the new build – more costly but with better revenue potential and a long-term future, instead of just adding on. I think Sir Jim would prefer this approach as well.”

What progress has been made on the stadium plans?

The club has already carried out a feasibility study, and the UK government along with Trafford Council have approved the development plans. However, Manchester United has yet to make a final decision about building a new stadium. Securing the necessary funding for the £2bn project could pose a significant challenge.

Fans would hope for investment in United’s squad

A major criticism of Ratcliffe and INEOS so far has been their focus on cost-cutting rather than investing in the team. While partly financing an expensive new stadium could change this perception, supporters are primarily concerned with immediate improvements. The Red Devils spent very little during the January transfer window, failing to support head coach Ruben Amorim with new signings that could enhance the team’s performance. Fans will expect more investment in the summer.

 

A view of Chelsea’s grandstand at Stamford Bridge during a matchday.

Chelsea could be considering the sale of one of their high-profile signings this summer. INEOS ultimately decided against strengthening Ruben Amorim’s attack in the winter transfer window, even after allowing three forwards to depart on loan.

In fact, Antony and Marcus Rashford made moves from Manchester United to Real Betis and Aston Villa, respectively, while the promising Ethan Wheatley joined League Two leaders Walsall on loan for the rest of the season.

At various points during the window, it seemed that the club was aiming to close a deal; for instance, United were linked with Chelsea’s underperforming striker Christopher Nkunku, who has struggled to make an impact since his £52 million transfer from RB Leipzig.

The 14-cap French international, who has been praised by fellow countryman Thierry Henry for his playing style, is still part of Enzo Maresca’s plans for now, but he could leave Chelsea ahead of the 2025 season.

United expected to target Nkunku again in the summer
Christopher Nkunku playing for Chelsea in a Carabao Cup match.
Nkunku has often played a secondary role to Nicolas Jackson. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Fabrizio Romano confirmed Manchester United’s interest in Nkunku, adding that the player might leave once the 2024/2025 season concludes.

“Nkunku at Chelsea was initially an option for Bayern [Munich] at the start of the market, and United considered him, but he never wanted to leave on loan,” Romano said on his YouTube channel.

“Now, he’s staying at Chelsea. We’ll see how the season progresses, but I suspect Nkunku could leave next summer if a good opportunity arises.”

The 27-year-old became one of Europe’s top strikers during his time at Leipzig, scoring an impressive 35 goals and assisting 15 times in his penultimate season, followed by 23 goals and nine assists in 2022/2023.

This incredible form led Chelsea to invest heavily in his signing, but the transfer has not gone as planned for any party; Nkunku has been beset by persistent injuries over the past year, which prevented him from becoming the team’s main No.9 – a spot now occupied by Nicolas Jackson.

With the signing of a new deal, Amad will remain with Manchester United until June 30, 2030. Since joining the team in 2021, the 22-year-old Ivory Coast international has made 50 appearances and netted nine goals. He has already contributed seven assists, scored six goals, and earned the club’s Player of the Month title twice this season. “I am really proud to have signed this new contract,” Amad stated. Even though I’ve already experienced some amazing moments with this group, there are still a ton more to come. I want to make history at Manchester United, and I have high goals for the game.

Since coming here four years ago, I have learned a great deal, and I am incredibly appreciative to the coaches and staff who have supported my growth as well as the supporters who keep me going every day. “Everyone has had a challenging season, but I am convinced that we are headed in the right direction and that the future will be truly remarkable. I’m willing to sacrifice everything to support the club and restore the pride of our supporters.

“Everyone is thrilled with Amad’s development; his quality on the ball, versatility, and determination make him a key part of Manchester United’s future,” stated Jason Wilcox, technical director of Manchester United. “We all look forward to helping Amad realize his enormous potential and succeed at the club in the upcoming seasons, as he has the best years of his career ahead of him.”