Manchester United’s fans have been hugely disappointed over the last 12 years, with the club unable to reach the heights that were set under the Sir Alex Ferguson era.
The Scotsman led the Red Devils to a staggering 13 Premier League titles, but since his retirement in 2013, the first-team have only been able to muster multiple second-place finishes.
Ruben Amorim will no doubt want to end such a drought, but the 2024/25 campaign was the polar opposite of what he would have had in mind after taking the reins in November.
The 15th-place finish was unacceptable, especially given the expectations of the fanbase, but the recent run of three wins in a row has highlighted glimpses of a turnaround in form.
However, the upcoming January transfer window will present a new opportunity for the manager to further invest in the squad and bolster the options at his disposal.
United’s hunt for added additions in January
Over the past couple of days, United have been named as one of the sides interested in a move for Borussia Dortmund star Jobe Bellingham in the January window.
The Englishman only moved to the Bundesliga during the summer, but after just two starts in 2025/26, he could be set for a quick exit to gain valuable minutes to aid his progression.
A £42m price tag has been mooted as a result, but other teams such as Crystal Palace and Sunderland are also in the race for his signature at present.
However, he’s not the only player in their sights, with AC Milan winger Rafael Leao another top-level star who’s reportedly being scouted by the Red Devils hierarchy.
According to TEAMtalk, the Portuguese international would be “very keen” on a Premier League switch, with Arsenal and Chelsea just two other sides in contention for his services.
Their report also states that the 26-year-old does have a €150m (£132m) release clause in his contract, but it remains unclear if the Italian side would be willing to negotiate a cut-price deal.
Why United’s £132m target is even better than Mbeumo
The summer gave Amorim and United the perfect chance to improve the first-team squad, with the hierarchy forking out a fee in the region of £71m for attacker Bryan Mbeumo.
The Cameroonian international was a key target for multiple sides in the division, but ultimately, it was the Red Devils who came out on top to win the race for his services.
Many people raised eyebrows at the mammoth fee, especially after one solid year in the top-flight with 20 goals, but it’s safe to say the money spent looks worthwhile just a handful of games into his spell.
The 26-year-old has already found the net on five occasions within his first ten outings for the club, already sitting as the club’s top goalscorer at present.
Mbeumo has nailed his starting role down in Amorim’s system, but that could be about to change beyond January – especially if a deal is agreed for Leao.
There’s no denying it would be a hefty investment given the recent spending at Old Trafford, yet it could be one that takes the current first-team squad to the next level.
When comparing the pair’s respective stats from the current season, the Portuguese star has managed to outperform the current United star in countless key areas.
Games played
5
9
Goals scored
3
5
Minutes per goal
91
193
Progressive carries
4.1
3.1
Progressive passes
3.3
2.3
Take-ons completed
2.3
0.8
Pass accuracy
75%
74%
Key passes completed
1.9
1.8
Passes into the 18-yard box
1.5
0.8
Leao may have scored slightly fewer goals in 2025/26, but he has posted a better minute per goal ratio – showcasing his clinical nature within the final third.
With the ball at his feet, the Milan star has dominated Mbeumo, posting a higher tally of take-ons per 90 and subsequently achieving a higher success rate.
Finding a teammate is also another strong point of his game, as seen by his higher tallies of key passes and passes into the opposition box per 90 in 2025/26.
Such numbers would allow the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha to also hit the ground running in Manchester after their own big-money transfers this summer.
To top off his dominance over the current Red Devils star, Leao has produced more progressive passes and progressive carries per 90 – highlighting his ability to get the ball into forward areas at any given opportunity.
£132m is an absurd amount of money, with United having to break the current English transfer record to secure his signature if the Serie A side are unwilling to negotiate.
However, it’s evidently clear that the 26-year-old is a phenomenal talent, levels above Mbeumo, with the hierarchy needing to jump at the chance of landing him in January.
