Wilcox leading Man Utd chase to sign £80m Cunha upgrade

Squad depth, or the shortage of it, has been the important thing concern following Manchester United’s defeat at house 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 the whole lot seems to collapse, whereas using 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 targets 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.

The Pink Devils do boast a direct substitute 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 trying 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 go away Previous Trafford, United are maybe starting to pay the worth for the shortage of choices in that ahead line.

Carrick’s facet have now gained simply one in every of their final 4 league video games, whereas their final three targets 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 because the 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 is likely to be music to the ears of United supporters to be taught that, as per Ben Jacobs – writing within the GIVEMESPORT publication – Jason Wilcox and co are within the combine for Aston Villa sensation, Morgan Rogers.

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

There’s mentioned to be a ‘concrete risk’ that the Englishman leaves Villa Park this summer time, even when he isn’t 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 yr 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 choice in that position, following the lack of Patrick Dorgu to harm.

Utilising Wilcox – and Carrick’s – connections to get a deal over the road for Rogers would certainly be an ideal resolution, 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’ means to float and trigger havoc off the left was notably seen towards United again in December, having twice curled house in beautiful vogue after breezing previous Leny Yoro.

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

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

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

His tally of eight targets 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 targets and two assists.

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

This has come after a breakthrough 2024/25 marketing campaign that noticed Rogers register 30 targets and assists in his first full season at Villa Park, rightly swooping the PFA Younger Participant of the Yr award because of this – 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 ‘massive probabilities’ and averaged 1.3 key passes per recreation this season.

For comparability, Cunha – more likely to be his rival on that facet, if he have been to affix the Pink Devils – has created solely 5 ‘massive probabilities’, whereas averaging simply 1.0 key passes per recreation.

Cunha, it should be mentioned, 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.