Manchester United came straight out of the gates at the start of the summer transfer window, signing Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers to help cushion the fall from grace in 2024/25.
Things were pretty bleak when Ruben Amorim wrapped up the opening chapter of his tenure at Old Trafford, and the road ahead remains long and ominous, but bagging Wolves’ £62.5m man at least demonstrated a willingness from INEOS to turn the page, begin anew.
However, that fast start has slowed to a snail’s pace, with very little else having happened on the transfer front for the desperate Red Devils, who after finishing 15th in the Premier League and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur are in desperate need of an overhaul.
The battle to sign Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo rages on. Viktor Gyokeres will join Arsenal, but United are still set on signing a centre-forward to improve upon the unconvincing Rasmus Hojlund.
However, Amorim also wants to strengthen Man United’s midfield.
Man Utd's search for a midfielder
Man United boss Amorim is looking to rebuild his squad across a number of areas as he prepares to challenge for silverware and a route back into European competition over the next year.
The fact that improvements are needed across so many areas of the field underscores the severity of the situation at the Theatre of Dreams, but while things haven’t moved as quickly as fans would have liked, there is hope that speed will increase over the coming weeks as pre-season starts to swing.
Christian Eriksen’s departure as a free agent at the end of June highlights the need for a central midfielder, though the centre of the park is hardly threadbare.
Amorim wants a midfielder, and perhaps he’ll harbour quiet grievances over his outfit’s decision to part with Scott McTominay one year ago, the Scotland star since becoming the Serie A MVP with Napoli, whom he led toward the Scudetto.
Alas, McTominay plies his trade elsewhere. However, Man United could learn from their mistakes and sign a player of similar proportions – one who is competing over in Italy right now.
INEOS begin talks for Serie A midfielder
As per TBR Football, Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz is keen to return to the Premier League just one year after leaving Aston Villa in a deal worth £42m.
Manchester United are joined by Tottenham in their interest.
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In fact, United have held conversations with the Brazil international’s representatives about a summer move, with Juventus having green-lit his prospective departure.
Further suitors both in England and overseas are expected to make their move at some stage, so INEOS will want to get this one over the line pronto.
What Douglas Luiz would bring to Man Utd
Luiz’s frustrating season with Juventus has left him eager to pursue a path back toward the Premier League, his favourite stomping ground, and Man United appear more than happy to oblige.
Once a career hatchling at Manchester City, the Villans signed Luiz for a £15m fee, and he went on to make 204 appearances, posting 22 goals and 24 assists.
He was a fantastic Premier League player, the subject of long-standing efforts from Arsenal to bring him over, before the Gunners eventually conceded defeat and signed Declan Rice instead.
But in spite of his abundant talent, the South American has endured a tough time in Italy, only playing a fringe role for Juventus.
Matches (starts)
35 (35)
19 (3)
Goals
9
0
Assists
5
0
Touches*
70.1
27.3
Pass completion
89%
90%
Big chances created
10
3
Key passes*
1.5
0.8
Dribbles*
0.7
0.6
Ball recoveries*
5.5
1.6
Tackles*
1.7
0.9
Duels (won)*
4.2 (51%)
1.9 (55%)
Were you unacquainted with Luiz as a Premier League player, you would be forgiven for lambasting Man United for their interest in a player who endured such peripheral, uninspiring performances across his campaign in Turin.
But at Aston Villa, he was an absolute “warrior” of a midfielder, as praised by journalist Jack Grimse. Luiz’s sale was forced as a by-product of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules, and Unai Emery was not happy with the outcome, even though it was a necessity.
It’s funny: sometimes a player enters new territory and reaches levels previously unknown to them. Sometimes, an exciting transfer doesn’t go to plan.
The two ends of the spectrum here can be applied respectively to Luiz and McTominay, but given that both are robust and athletic number eights with keen eyes for goal when thriving in their environment, perhaps United could restore the presence of their former Scot by signing Luiz.
McTominay, 28, scored 12 goals and supplied six assists across 34 Serie A matches for Napoli, also averaging 6.1 successful duels and 4.3 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore.
You can see the energy and completeness, and how his style literally exuded itself upon Antonio Conte’s side, lifting them higher, dynamising them.
Luiz was hailed as “one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders” by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell before his move and “one of the best [midfielders] in the world” in the words of Sky Italia, winning Aston Villa’s Player of the Season for the 2022/23 season, thus illustrating that his high-level ability is a sustainable thing, not just a flash-in-the-pan.
His remarkably complete level was something that McTominay has emulated in Italy. Now, the inverse could be true of the Brazilian, who could return to the Premier League and pick up where he left off, playing a talismanic part in guiding Man United back into the big time.
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