INEOS are now reportedly plotting a move to sign an impressive young centre-back who could cost Manchester United more than £50m in 2026.
Amorim shares update on Fernandes injury
It was an afternoon to forget for Man United against Aston Villa. Whilst their performance was once again worthy of all three points, Leny Yoro learned a harsh lesson up against Morgan Rogers, who struck two fine efforts to seal an impressive victory for the hosts. What made matters so much worse, however, was the injury to Bruno Fernandes.
So many have pondered where the Red Devils would be without their captain over the years and Ruben Amorim now faces the task of providing the answer.
The Man United boss provided an update on his talisman, telling reporters: “it’s soft tissue so it’s going to be a while”, ruling the Portugal international out of the Boxing Day clash against Newcastle and beyond.
“I don’t know (the severity). It’s a soft tissue. I think he’s going to lose some games. I don’t know for sure, so let’s see. You never control these things, so we’ll see. He is a guy who is always fit so he can recover quite well, but I don’t know.”
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Whether that changes United’s January transfer plans remains to be seen. There’s been plenty of rumours surrounding a potential move for Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who would at least add another goalscoring threat, but it could be argued that Amorim’s side have deeper problems.
With Harry Maguire still on course to leave as a free agent in the summer, those at Old Trafford have unsurprisingly turned their focus towards the centre-back market.
According to Caught Offside, INEOS are now plotting a move to sign Honest Ahanor from Atalanta ahead of several rivals next year after Atalanta’s price tag emerged.
Man Utd plotting Honest Ahanor move
The 17-year-old is quickly becoming one of the most promising teenagers in European football, having already featured eight times in Serie A this season. As such, it’s no shock that Atalanta have priced their young star at around €60m (£52m) with Real Madrid, Man United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich all chasing his signature.
It would, therefore, be a major coup if United managed to lure Ahanor to Old Trafford and welcome an upgrade on Yoro in the process.
The Frenchman has struggled and was arguably at fault for both Aston Villa goals on Sunday, while Ahanor has shown every sign of being the real rising star of the position.
“I won’t use the word ‘cheating’ but they’re not doing enough. And after the game, I’d be looking at him [Yoro], I wouldn’t be looking at the other bits, I’d be asking him, ‘are you going to stop him?’,” Roy Keane exclaimed on Sky Sports.
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“Same with the first goal, when Rogers gets the ball wide, we’re all sitting there, we know there’s danger. Do they not know there’s danger?'”
League stats per 90 25/26
Ahanor
Yoro
Minutes
552
1,003
Progressive Passes
2.46
4.59
Tackles Won
1.15
0.9
Blocks
2.3
0.81
Ahanor has particularly impressed out of possession, outperforming Yoro in tackles and blocks. On the ball, meanwhile, he has also shown plenty of promise playing for a side who sees much less of the ball.
The potential is certainly there for all to see, and it’s a signing that would suit the recent trend of young defenders at Old Trafford. Amorim already has Yoro and Ayden Heaven at his disposal, but could now welcome Ahanor to complete an impressive set of future stars.