INEOS line up move to sign £86m “monster” for Man Utd

After Ruben Amorim’s dismissal as Manchester United manager in January, many people would have been forgiven for thinking the club would enter another period of uncertainty.

INEOS acted quickly to avoid any further embarrassment and appointed Michael Carrick as temporary manager until the end of the 2025/26 campaign.

The 44-year-old brought stability and impressive results back to Old Trafford during his four-months at the helm – subsequently losing just two of his 17 Premier League outings.

As a result, he’s been rewarded with a two-year permanent contract in Manchester and handed the opportunity to build on his impressive temporary stint.

He’s already been a part of the board’s recruitment drive for the summer window, which has seen a whole host of leading European stars appear on their radar.

Man Utd line up move for £86m star this summer

In an attempt to push for Premier League title glory in the near future, United have been credited with an interest in a whole host of attacking talents ahead of the summer.

AC Milan star Rafael Leao has emerged as one potential addition, especially after the Portuguese international stated his desire to change clubs ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

A fee in the region of £40m has been mooted for the 26-year-old’s signature this summer, with the player himself said to be open to a move to Old Trafford during the upcoming window.

He’s not the only attacking player currently in the hierarchy’s sights at present, with RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande another being considering by the recruitment team.

According to Sky Sports, United are keeping tabs on the Ivorian international ahead of the summer window, with the view to making a potential offer for the attacker.

The report also states that Liverpool and Chelsea are also monitoring the 19-year-old’s progress, but the German side also want keep hold of the youngster beyond the summer.

A figure in the region of £86m has been mooted to secure a move for the forward, who could be open to a move to the Premier League if the right offer arises.

Why Diomande would be better than Mbeumo for United

Ahead of the recent Premier League campaign, the United hierarchy realised drastic reinforcements were needed amid the struggles of Rasmus Hojlund and Antony in the final third.

Over £200m was spent on new attacking reinforcements by INEOS last summer, with Bryan Mbeumo one of the additions made to strengthen the Red Devils forward line.

The Cameroonian international cost a reported £71m from fellow Premier League side Brentford after netting 20 league goals during the 2024/25 campaign.

His first season at Old Trafford saw him score 11 times in England’s top-flight – subsequently ending the season as the club’s joint-top goalscorer alongside Benjamin Sesko.

However, he may struggle to maintain his starting role off the right-hand side of Carrick’s attack – especially if a deal can be agreed with Leipzig for Diomande.

Whilst this season was the Ivorian’s first in one of Europe’s top-five leagues, he managed to catch the eye and subsequently outperforming Mbeumo in countless key areas.

Diomande, who’s been dubbed “one of the best wingers” by one analyst, registered more goals than the Cameroonian whilst also setting up more goals for his teammates.

The aforementioned tallies showcase his all-round quality within attacking areas, which would only strengthen United’s title ambitions should they secure his signature.

The Leipzig star also managed to register three times more successful dribbles per 90 this term – with his tally of 4.3 per 90 the highest of any player in the Bundesliga. On that evidence, it is hardly a surprise to note that recruitment and performance analyst Marcus Bring labelled him as a “1v1 monster”

Diomande’s forward-thinking nature could be a huge asset to Carrick’s side, with the youngster having the opportunity to develop further under the manager’s guidance.

His dominance over Mbeumo is further reflected in his better chance creation rate and higher tally of possession won in the final third per 90 – numbers which make him a superb all-round product.

£86m would be a huge gamble on a player with just one year’s experience in Europe’s top divisions, but Diomande has already showcased he’s capable of rising to the occasion.

At just 19, it’s a scary prospect to think how good he can be in the years ahead, with Carrick able to play a huge part in his potential development at Old Trafford.

Replacing Mbeumo with the Ivorian may be a somewhat controversial call, but it’s one that could push the Red Devils even closer to a potential title battle.