Among the litany of factors which brought Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United tenure to an abrupt end was the disagreement over the club’s transfer dealings, with the Portuguese coach particularly perturbed over the failure to land Antoine Semenyo this month.
The 40-year-old was said to have pushed for Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez over the summer, ahead of signing Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens, continuing his drive for Premier League-proven signings amid the captures of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
The Athletic revealed that a meeting had been held with Semenyo too, although with United refusing to meet Bournemouth’s asking price, INEOS pivoted to Mbeumo instead, albeit while still ultimately forking out upwards of £65m on the Cameroonian anyway.
That potentially all played its part in the 25-year-old instead settling on Manchester City as his preferred destination this month, joining Pep Guardiola’s side on a £62.5m deal, having already scored ten league goals this season.
Amorim, nor INEOS, were able to get their man, although a perfect alternative has now presented itself…
Man Utd could have chance to sign Premier League winger this month
Another factor in Amorim’s exit appeared to be the conflict with Jason Wilcox over his tactical set-up, with the Englishman believed to have pushed the ex-Sporting CP boss to shift to a 4-3-3 on a permanent basis.
The problem with Wilcox’s demand, however, is that the club have put together a squad that doesn’t include a genuine, out-and-out left-winger, with Cunha more for a number ten and Patrick Dorgu – who started in that role against Burnley – seemingly at his best off the right.
With Alejandro Garnacho sold and Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho rightly shipped out on loan, there is a real void to be filled in that department, hence why Semenyo would have been an ideal pick.
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That said, according to TEAMtalk, a new opportunity could have presented itself, with the report outlining that United are among the clubs to have been alerted to the potential availability of Brighton and Hove Albion star, Kaoru Mitoma.
As per the report, both United and Tottenham Hotspur, alongside Saudi Pro League clubs, are being kept informed regarding the Japanese winger’s situation, with intermediaries engaging in talks with ‘all camps’ to see if a deal could be on the table.
The 28-year-old – who is said to be a long-term target for the Old Trafford side – was the subject of a £50m Saudi bid a year ago.
Why Mitoma could be Man Utd's own Semenyo
Flying wingers are in Man United’s traditions, with Mitoma arguably a perfect figure to fill the left-wing void, having even been described as being “like watching Ryan Giggs” by talkSPORT’s Tony Cascarino:
With electric speed and a real direct quality, it is easy to see where that comparison stems from, with Mitoma only recently serving a reminder of his quality after firing home in the 1-1 draw with City at the Etihad.
That is the latest effort from his fruitful stay at the Amex, racking up 47 goals and assists in 119 games in all competitions to date, with three goal involvements in five meetings with United.
He may have been shackled by Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the 2023 FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, describing his battle with the right-back as a “complete defeat”, although he has been a regular thorn in the side of Red Devils defenders in recent years.
Brighton vs Man Utd – 23 April 2023
Brighton
Position
Man Utd
Sanchez
GK
De Gea
Gross
RB
Wan-Bissaka
Webster
CB
Lindelof
Dunk
CB
Shaw
Estupinian
LB
Dalot
Mac Allister
CDM
Casemiro
Caicedo
CDM
Eriksen
March
RM
Antony
Enciso
CAM
Fernandes
Mitoma
LM
Rashford
Welbeck
ST
Martial
Like Semenyo – and Giggs before him – there is a dynamism and fearlessness to his game, with the pair noted to be stylistically and statistically similar players in the Premier League last season, as per FBref.
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That likeness can be seen, in particular, in the duo’s respective ball-carrying prowess, with Semenyo averaging 1.95 successful take-ons per, while Mitoma is only just behind, averaging 1.80 for that same metric.
The pair are also an asset in a defensive sense too, ranking in the top 3% and top 7% for blocks made per 90, respectively.
He might not be at the peak of his powers right now, unlike the ex-Cherries star, but as another ready-made, instant solution for those at Old Trafford, Mitoma would surely be the perfect alternative.
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