All roads lead to Bilbao in the Europa League, with Manchester United bidding to ensure that this drab season can end with a flourish, having been drawn against Lyon in the quarter-final stage.
A third trophy in three years for the Red Devils would certainly help to paper over the cracks of the club’s dire Premier League form, although, as manager Ruben Amorim has already admitted, any European glory would not be enough to “save” their season.
Regardless of what happens on the continent, work is seemingly already being done behind the scenes ahead of what is yet another vital summer transfer window.
Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven were acquired in January, while 17-year-old wing-back, Diego Leon, is set to arrive at the end of the season, after agreeing a £3m move from his native Paraguay earlier this year.
With departures expected – including the likes of Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen – Amorim’s ranks will need to be bolstered, with rumours already rife regarding the business that could be done over the coming months.
Latest on Man Utd's transfer search
It has been noteworthy in recent times that rarely have the Red Devils recruited from within the Premier League, with Erik ten Hag’s tenure notably seeing a raft of Eredivisie arrivals make the move to Old Trafford.
Since signing the likes of Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in 2019, the only senior signing – excluding academy moves, loans and free transfers such as Eriksen and Jonny Evans – to have come from another top-flight club is Mason Mount, with the Englishman joining on an initial £55m deal from Chelsea in 2023.
While that deal has backfired amid Mount’s injury woes – and his return of just one goal to date – it could be wise to once again attempt to cherry-pick the best in the division. Think landing a teenage Wayne Rooney from Everton back in 2004.
That scenario could be set to repeat itself, if recent reports are to be believed, with the Daily Mail reporting that United are among a raft of Premier League clubs to have begun working on a deal for Southampton’s Tyler Dibling.
As per the report, 17 top-flight sides have lodged an enquiry in their bid to land the 19-year-old sensation this summer, albeit with the Old Trafford outfit holding the trump card, due to Jason Wilcox’s connection to the Saints after serving as director of football at St Mary’s previously.
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The piece indicates that United have already sent scouts to watch the England U19 international of late, with the race now on to see just who will win the battle for his signature.
Why Man Utd could be chasing their next Rooney
As alluded to above, at the peak of their powers under Sir Alex Ferguson, the Red Devils were able to poach the very best that the division had to offer, be it Dimitar Berbatov, Robin van Persie, or indeed, a young Rooney.
After two years in the first-team at Goodison Park, ‘Wazza’ – fresh off the back of his Euro 2004 exploits – was snapped up by Ferguson and co on a £27m deal, with United’s faith in that 18-year-old superstar duly rewarded amid his eventual rise to being the club’s all-time top scorer.
The former England skipper was something of a freak talent, it must be said, yet the aforementioned Dibling could well be on a similar trajectory, having been a firm fixture of Southampton’s first team in recent years, despite his youth.
Games (starts)
25 (17)
Goals
2
Assists
0
Big chances missed
1
Big chances created
2
Key passes*
0.7
Pass accuracy*
83%
Successful dribbles*
1.6
Fouled*
1.8
Tackles*
1.2
Handed his senior debut back in 2023, the teenage winger has particularly caught the eye in a dismal Saints side this season, notably starring against United on his first Premier League start back in September, after winning a penalty following a foul from Diogo Dalot.
While, unlike Rooney, Dibling is an England youth star rather than a central figure in the senior Three Lions side, it is telling that he has already solidified a regular role for himself at club level, particularly at a time when teenagers are not so readily thrown into the mix.
A return of four goals and two assists so far this term in all competitions is encouraging for the Exeter-born starlet, with it no surprise that he has earned rave reviews, having been hailed as an “unreal talent” by analyst Ben Mattinson.
In a way, he does possess that almost street footballer vibe that a teenage Rooney also had, with Dibling catching the eye with his low socks and innate dribbling ability. Indeed, he ranks in the top 7% of Premier League midfielders for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.
A “world-class talent” – in the view of Southampton academy manager, Andy Goldie – the silky sensation looks destined for the top, with it set to be intriguing to see if he can follow in Rooney’s footsteps and shine at an elite club like United, should a deal get done.
Van Nistelrooy 2.0: Man Utd offered chance to sign "best CF on the market"
Man Utd can finally end their search for a proven number one
1 ByRobbie Walls
