Wilcox main Man Utd chase to signal £80m Cunha improve

Squad depth, or the dearth of it, has been the important thing concern following Manchester United‘s defeat at residence to Leeds United on Monday evening, with that 2-1 loss exposing simply how restricted Michael Carrick‘s ranks actually are.

Take out a bit or two in Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo, and all the things seems to disintegrate, whereas the usage of solely two substitutes highlighted Carrick’s potential lack of religion in these on the periphery.

Even common starters, like Amad and Matheus Cunha, have been inconsistent, the Ivorian nonetheless caught on simply two objectives and two assists within the Premier League this season, whereas the £62.5m Brazilian has scored simply as soon as in his final eight top-flight video games.

All scorers since Carrick returned
Participant	Objectives
Sesko	5
Casemiro	4
Fernandes	3
Mbeumo	3
Cunha	3
Dorgu	2
Personal objective	1

The Crimson Devils do boast a direct alternative within the type of Bryan Mbeumo, though forward of a 2025/26 marketing campaign that might see the membership return to European motion, additional firepower is wanting more and more important.

Man Utd amongst Premier League golf equipment chasing £80m signing

After a summer time that noticed Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Rasmus Hojlund all depart Outdated Trafford, United are maybe starting to pay the value for the dearth of choices in that ahead line.

Carrick’s facet have now gained simply certainly one of their final 4 league video games, whereas their final three objectives have come courtesy of Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and a James Hill personal objective away at Bournemouth.

Amad hasn’t scored in 2026, Mbeumo hasn’t scored for the reason that win over Tottenham Hotspur, and Cunha’s solely objective since early February got here towards Aston Villa, now even behind Casemiro within the scoring charts.

With that in thoughts, it may be music to the ears of United supporters to be taught that, as per Ben Jacobs – writing within the GIVEMESPORT e-newsletter – Jason Wilcox and co are within the combine for Aston Villa sensation, Morgan Rogers.

In keeping with Jacobs, the 23-year-old is ‘one possibility’ being thought of by the INEOS regime, with Rogers having been at Manchester Metropolis concurrently Wilcox, whereas subsequently working below Carrick at Middlesbrough.

There may be stated to be a ‘concrete chance’ that the Englishman leaves Villa Park this summer time, even when he’s not pushing for a transfer, with Jacobs believing that the Midlands facet might do enterprise for a price of £80m plus, as was his valuation a 12 months in the past.

Why Rogers could be an improve on Cunha

Because the report notes, no matter whether or not Carrick stays or goes, a brand new left-winger is ready to be a ‘excessive precedence’, with Cunha the one present possibility in that position, following the lack of Patrick Dorgu to harm.

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Utilising Wilcox – and Carrick’s – connections to get a deal over the road for Rogers would certainly be an ideal answer, with the one-time West Bromwich Albion teenager mirroring Cunha as a flexible ahead who can function centrally or off the left.

Appearing as a roaming quantity ten below Unai Emery, Rogers’ capacity to float and trigger havoc off the left was notably seen towards United again in December, having twice curled residence in gorgeous vogue after breezing previous Leny Yoro.

Together with his highly effective body and innate scoring prowess from vary, it is simple to see why the Three Lions star is such a beautiful goal, with a outstanding position at this summer time’s World Cup solely prone to increase his standing and valuation.

Within the view of pundit and England legend, Glenn Hoddle, the best way he powers across the pitch is sort of “like a Wayne Rooney” in his youthful days, such is his capacity to carry off defenders and glide ahead from deep.

Wayne Rooney's first spell at Everton stats (timeless)

That comparability bodes effectively for the impression he may make at Outdated Trafford, with even Rogers’ latest dip not precisely trigger for concern, regardless of scoring only one league objective in 2026.

His tally of eight objectives and 5 assists within the top-flight in complete nonetheless ensures he would symbolize an improve on Cunha in that position, with the latter man contributing simply seven objectives and two assists.

Rogers’ tally of 18 objective involvements in all competitions can also be solely bettered by Fernandes (26) again in Manchester.

This has come after a breakthrough 2024/25 marketing campaign that noticed Rogers register 30 objectives and assists in his first full season at Villa Park, rightly swooping the PFA Younger Participant of the Yr award consequently – the identical accolade Rooney gained in his first two years at United.

What additionally units Rogers aside is his artistic high quality, alongside being an elite goalscorer, having created ten ‘large probabilities’ and averaged 1.3 key passes per recreation this season.

For comparability, Cunha – prone to be his rival on that facet, if he have been to hitch the Crimson Devils – has created solely 5 ‘large probabilities’, whereas averaging simply 1.0 key passes per recreation.

Cunha, it should be stated, has greater than had his moments this season, however the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man must be careful – there’s at all times an even bigger fish.