Manchester United eyes fresh left-wing talent, narrowing focus to Premier League-proven and continental stars. Which rising winger will Old Trafford target?
It’s well known that, alongside efforts to strengthen midfield, Manchester United are also targeting reinforcements on the left side.
A major factor behind this is the uncertainty at left-back. Luke Shaw has remained available for much of the season, but there are clear signs that his past injury issues have led to a gradual physical decline.
At the same time, while United’s options on the right are full of quality, the left lacks reliability. Matheus Cunha and Patrick Dorgu have both impressed in spells on the left wing, yet the club are still exploring additional options.
There is also an open question around Dorgu’s long-term role. The Danish international previously featured on the right wing for Lecce, then operated as a left wing-back under Rúben Amorim, and has also been used on the left wing by Michael Carrick.
United have three-man shortlist for left-wing
Within United's search for a new left winger, it's becoming clear that the club are open to options with Premier League experience or on the continent with high potential.
According to Sky Sports, United's ideal left-wing choices have been narrowed down to three players: Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa, Everton's Iliman Ndiaye, and young RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande.
Roundtable have previously reported that Ndiaye is particularly high on the club's shortlist due to his Premier League experience, which some within United's scouting department believe puts him above Diomande.
While Diomande is a brilliant talent, much of his price tag, which could be north of £70 million, comes from his potential, rather than his current ability.
At the same time, if United are to pursue Rogers, they are expected to face significant competition from Chelsea and Arsenal for the former Manchester City starlet, who has a price tag north of £80 million.
Ndiaye is the perfect option
Not only is Ndiaye set to be the cheapest option on the list, with a reported price tag of around £70 million, but it's also claimed that the Senegal international "dreams" of a move to a club like United.
Last summer, United went with Premier League experience for their wide attacking options, bringing in Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, both then around 26, and Ndaiye is the closest to that.
While Rogers' talent and ceiling are undeniable, he has gone very hot and cold under Unai Emery, and with those within United talking about a real push up the table next summer, the club cannot afford to let multiple players go through rough patches of form.
On the other hand, Ndiaye's experiecne and consistency across the Championship, Premier League, and Ligue 1 give him a much better chance of hitting the ground running with the Reds.