If Manchester United are able to get a deal done with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for Nuno Mendes, then I think he’d be a phenomenal signing. One of the few ideal LWB signings we could make.
The advantage and disadvantage of playing a system that relies so heavily on wingbacks is that there are far fewer top class options available. Certainly, players who have played that role and excelled in it. You might have to go with a player who has the right attributes, but hasn’t actually played as a wingback and hope they can adapt. However, there is also far less competition for those players as less teams play with wingbacks.
Nuno Mendes is about as perfect an option as we could possibly find. He’s young with high potential, while also still performing at a high level right now. He’s got all the skills and attributes needed to play LWB, and has done so previously, having broken through at Sporting under Amorim playing LWB.
It’s little surprise that Ugarte is one of the players who seems to be taking the adaption to Amorim in his stride. Having played under him previously. Now there is a lot of concern by United fans over signing former players of the current manager, mostly due to the media over-hyping it under EtH.
However, when that manager has a very clear system, and it’s a system that is different to what the players are used to; then having 2 or 3 players who have played that system, or for that manager previously will help speed up the process of the rest of the squad getting up to speed with it.
This probably works better with players who have moved to other top sides or bigger, more competitive leagues, before moving to United. As they are at least proven beyond just the one team, under one manager is a “smaller” league.
Nuno Mendes fits that bill, he’s been successful under Amorim in his system in Portugal. He has also been successful in France for PSG under different managers in different systems. Meaning that even if the club decided to go down a different route in a few years time that he could adapt to different tactics under a different manager.
In terms of what we need from a LWB right now he is ideal. Very quick, physically strong, very attack minded, technically gifted (he started out in youth football as a No.10). He plays at a very high level, with potential to improve more. He has also excelled in this system for this manager.
The only downside is that he won’t be cheap, that said given he has 18 months left on his contract and he doesn’t want to sign a new deal then PSG either have to sell in January or in the summer other wise this time next year he can sign a pre-agreement with a club outside of France (if you’re leaving PSG then you probably are moving to a club outside of France) . Meaning he might be available for cheaper than he normally would be, relatively at least.
He’s about as perfect an option as you could probably ask for in what is probably our biggest priority position. I like Dorgu and Kerkez from what I’ve seen of them (less of Dorgu), they are young though and neither have played much as a wingback so they would need to adapt.
A player I like from the EPL who I think would be a great option is Rayan Aït-Nouri from Wolves. He’s excelled in the EPL playing as a wingback. Is still young and has potential and room to improve and become a top player. Also if Wolves get relegated, then he will be one of the players that they will probably have to sell in the summer. The downside is that I there is no way Wolves will sell in January unless for a massive fee as they need him to try and avoid relegation.
You also have Alvaro Fernandez as a possible option that shouldn’t be overlooked. He did play games as a wingback for Preston in the Championship last season and was their young player of the year. He wouldn’t take any time to adapt to the club / country, has all the right attributes and is available for a fair / cheap price in a difficult January market.
The questions are whether he is potentially good enough for where we want to be, and whether he would be willing to rejoin the club less than 6 months after he left due to a lack of opportunities.
That said if we can’t get either if Mendes or Aït-Nouri in January and Fernandez is willing to come back then he is a player we should be looking to sign in January. Even if ultimately he isn’t good enough amto be first choice. Looking at our squad we have Dalot, Mazraoui and Amad who can all play RWB and probably do a good enough job at least.
We have absolutely no one at LWB, neither Shaw or Malacia are ideally suited to the wingback role, which ultimately becomes a moot point when neither can be fit to play. Unless Amass is ready to start playing regularly, then we absolutely need to sign two LWB’s between now and the start of next season. It might make sense to resign Fernandez as well as someone like Mendes or Aït-Nouri and have them both fight it out for the starting position.
The final name I’ve seen low-key linked is Sergio Regulion, who is out of contract at Spurs in the summer. I know most fans would maybe turn their noses up at him, yet when he played for us on loan he wasn’t awful, and he has tended to look better when played as an attacking fullback or a wingback with less defensive responsibilities. On a free as back up on a three year deal (he’s 28 now) he wouldn’t be an awful option, especially if the club have faith in Amass but feel he needs another year or two or a loan to be ready. He could be someone the club could maybe get for free even in January as it means Spurs save on his wages for the next six months.
One key point about Amorim is that at Sporting he’d sub at least one wingback in every single game. This is due to the high physical demands of the position and to keep his players fresh and avoid injuries. That means he needs at least four wingbacks two top options for each side. In which case he needs two LWB options and we currently have none.
Written by Shappy January 07 2025 13:38:36
