How to stop the rot? In fairness, it's perhaps unfair to assess Ruben Amorim at this early stage of a potentially long Manchester United tenure. The Portuguese tactician needs this pre-season to implement his teachings.
In fairness, the 46-year-old left a Sporting Lisbon side which he grew into a comparative superpower, surpassing Porto and Benfica and now two-in-a-row Liga Portugal champions. He didn't lift the title for a second time, but it was his team, his framework.
In fairness, Amorim took over an Old Trafford side in disrepair, and judgment should be reserved until a few months into the 2025/26 Premier League season.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim before the match
Matheus Cunha has been added to the first-team ranks; a brilliant signing. Heading out the door, Jonny Evans, Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof have all gone, and Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho are all wide forwards touted for exits.
But who else might the Red Devils be looking to reel in?
Man United's summer transfer plans
It's taking a while, but Bryan Mbeumo should sign from Brentford to Man United this summer. Sights remain fixed on the goalscoring winger, with a series of bids already rejected.
Whether Rasmus Hojlund stays or goes remains to be seen, but it's clear attacking investment is the club's priority. However, it's not the only port of call, with Jason Wilcox pushing to strengthen Amorim's midfield too.
Well, former Nigeria international, Julius Aghahowa, believes that Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi would like to join Man United this summer, despite growing interest from Everton.
Wilfred-Ndidi-Leicester
Aghahowa said: "While Everton and Al Ahly are clearly interested, Ndidi hopes to join Manchester United. He wants to take a step up by signing for a big club like Manchester United. This would be an excellent move for someone I consider one of the best African midfielders of recent years."
Ndidi is still only 28 and has a vast wealth of experience at the highest level. The Foxes might have fallen by the wayside last term, but he maintained a high standard and would be a shrewd signing indeed, valued at just £5m amid summer interest from United.
Why Man United want Wilfred Ndidi
United are forking out a fair bit of cash this summer, but then they need to. Last year's woes must not, cannot, be repeated, lest this behemoth of the English game sink into an unescapable pit.
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But the transfer progress is slow but steady, and Ndidi would be an effective and pragmatic addition, for sure. Once described as an "incredible" talent by Brendan Rodgers and an an "absolute monster" by ESPN's Colin Udoh, the Nigeria international has been at the King Power Stadium for a minute, joining from Belgian club Genk for £15m in January 2017.
He's hit some highs, winning the FA Cup, and indeed suffered some lows, being relegated from the Premier League twice in the past three seasons. However, Ndidi is a tough-tackling and intelligent midfielder, with robust athleticism and an eye for goal.
Given that Bruno Fernandes often plays a bit deeper these days, this could be the perfect move to ensure the Portuguese skipper maintains his high level, having notched 19 goals and 19 assists apiece in 2024/25.
Fernandes' creativity could also help the number six toward promotions his own attacking game, Ndidi having ranked among the top 13% of central midfielders across Europe last season for touches in the attacking box and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
But, of course, the £75k-per-week talent's bread and butter is his combative quality, his protective presence in front of the backline.
As per Sofascore, he averaged three tackles, 4.5 ball recoveries and 6.1 duels per Premier League match last year - you can only imagine how far Leicester would have sunk without his presence in the centre.
This is perfect for a player like Fernandes to skip from the centre toward the danger area, advancing with winged feet to thread passes through to the forwards. Despite United's struggles for creativity last season, Fernandes stood strong as one of the most effective playmakers in the country.
Most Chances Created in the Premier League (24/25)
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Data via StatMuse
But then we know Fernandes. We know he's great.
He needs support, though, and Ndidi could prove the perfect player to arrive and add some stability to the centre of the park, reinforcing Amorim's midfield with steel but also adding to the ball-playing focus, adding to the forward flow.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha-2 Related
[Cunha 2.0 for Amorim: Man Utd in talks to sign "unstoppable" £35m star](https://www.footballfancast.com/amorims-next-cunha-man-utd-open-talks-for-christopher-nkunku/ "Cunha 2.0 for Amorim: Man Utd in talks to sign "unstoppable" £35m star")
Manchester United are still planning to make some attacking signings this summer.