Fernandes repeat: Man Utd enter race for “special” £87m Semenyo alternative
It’s been another rollercoaster of a year for Manchester United, having flattered to deceive under Ruben Amorim’s management.
In the annual Premier League standings, the Red Devils are 13th, with 12 wins and 46 points across 36 matches. It hasn’t been good enough, but there’s no doubt that we have seen signs of progress over the past month or two.
Bruno Fernandes, as ever, has been the club’s shining light, but it’s disappointing to see that his 2025 has been curtailed early, sustaining a rare injury during the recent 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa.
Might this have altered United’s transfer plans? A deal for Manchester City-bound Antoine Semenyo has been in the works, but it wouldn’t be outrageous to suggest that the middle of the park is the priority position for INEOS as we head into the January market.
Man United's January transfer plans
Fernandes’ hamstring injury will have shifted Man United’s winter transfer strategy. Granted, the 30-year-old skipper isn’t expected to be sidelined for an extended period, but it’s unlikely we will see him again until the new year.
Perhaps this is the opportunity that Kobbie Mainoo has long been waiting for, though the 20-year-old talent has suffered a calf injury in training and may miss the next few weeks himself. Just his luck.
According to talkSPORT, United technical director Jason Wilcox has already turned toward an alternative to Semenyo, with a move for RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande in the pipeline.
Diomande, 19, has turned out to be quite the rising star, having enjoyed a prolific start to life in Germany. His talent is undeniable, and his employers have transfer-listed him at a whopping £87m.
He’s arguably got an even higher ceiling than Semenyo, and given the circumstances, he might prove to be Amorim’s own Fernandes signing at the Theatre of Dreams.
Why Yan Diomande would be perfect for Man Utd
Diomande is a two-sided winger who has established himself as one of the most clinical teenagers in Europe this season. He joined RB Leipzig from Leganes in Spain this summer, and last year, he only featured ten times in La Liga, scoring twice.
With seven goals and four assists already this term, the “special, special footballer”, as he has been called by journalist Antonio Mango, has the potential to become a superstar suggest he could become United’s new version of Fernandes, talismanic.
This argument is strengthened by the fact that he would arrive in January, as the Portuguese did when moving from Sporting Lisbon for an initial £47m fee in 2020.
Diomande is dangerous and direct. He is not stylistically similar to Fernandes, but his prolificness and ability to offer something distinctive does suggest that he could enjoy a similar impact. This is, after all, one of the most exciting attacking talents in the world.
Premier League 25/26 – Most Chances Created
Player
Apps
Chances created
Bruno Fernandes
17
51
Jeremy Doku
15
36
Mohamed Salah
14
33
Dominik Szoboszlai
17
31
Jack Grealish
16
30
Declan Rice
17
30
Data via FotMob
Moreover, he ranks among the top 6% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 3% for progressive carries, the top 1% for successful take-ons and the top 12 for tackles per 90, as per FBref.
There’s no question that Diomande has superstar potential, and given United’s vested interest in Semenyo over the past several weeks, it’s clear that he fits the mould that has been set by Amorim’s long-term plan.
The Ivory Coast international has quickly established himself as an elite talent, and while he would cost a pretty penny to bring over to Old Trafford in 2026, there’s no question that Man United would receive bang for their buck.
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Just as they did with Fernandes.
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