Manchester United have entered a critical phase of reconstruction following the worst season in their Premier League history. Ruben Amorim, who took over midway through the 2024/25 campaign, has been fully backed by the INEOS project under Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The club’s sporting leadership is acting with both urgency and strategic caution, aiming to fix the deep-rooted issues that have plagued the team from attack to midfield.
The £62.5 million acquisition of Matheus Cunha marked the first major step in this new era, but the overhaul is far from complete. Amorim and his team are now shifting focus towards more cost-effective reinforcements, players who can enhance the squad without stretching the club’s financial limits.
According to The Sun, United scouts were recently present at an international friendly between Algeria and Sweden to observe Hicham Boudaoui. Despite Algeria’s 4-3 loss, the 24-year-old midfielder impressed with his composure and energy—qualities that have defined his performances since joining OGC Nice in 2019.
Hicham Boudaoui to Manchester United: Will it happen?
The French club, also under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS umbrella, have valued Boudaoui at £20 million. However, there’s a significant hurdle: due to an agreement with UEFA designed to prevent conflicts of interest related to multi-club ownership, Manchester United cannot complete any transfers with Nice until 1 September, the very end of the transfer window in both England and France.
This situation creates a clear dilemma. Should United wait until the final hours of the window for Boudaoui, or pivot towards a more established target like Bryan Mbeumo? The Algerian brings physicality, attacking drive, and vision, attributes that align closely with the style of play Ruben Amorim aims to implement.
Yet, the potential transfer carries the scent of an internal INEOS manoeuvre. While Boudaoui’s price appears reasonable, United still need to trim the wage bill and raise funds. Players such as Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, or Antony could be sold, but offloading any of them quickly, and for the right price, will be a monumental challenge.
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Boudaoui may not offer immediate guarantees of top-level performance, but he brings energy, versatility, and a strong defensive work rate. If Manchester United’s plan is to build something sustainable through a collective identity, his addition could prove more valuable than it initially appears. However, there are clear risks in prioritizing a relatively untested option while allowing Premier League-proven talents like Bryan Mbeumo to slip away.
United cannot afford to keep signing players based on instinct or internal convenience. They must operate with true market intelligence, not simply rely on the network of their ownership group. If they genuinely want the 25-year-old Algerian, they need to make bold, uncomfortable decisions now, not wait until 1 September and hope the deal materializes under ideal conditions.