England boss Thomas Tuchel has illustrated exactly why Manchester United should have rolled the dice with a move for Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s superb resurgence in form at Leeds United has earned the former Manchester United-linked striker a call-up to the England national team.
The 29-year-old Leeds striker has netted 10 times in 30 matches across all competitions for the Premier League club since his 2025 move to Elland Road.
Calvert-Lewin’s name was attached to Man Utd last summer after he left Everton as a free agent, but the Red Devils did not make a move for the Three Lions striker.
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England manager Thomas Tuchel is seen in the stands prior to the Premier League match between Fulham and Everton at Craven Cottage in 2026 in London, England.
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Kobbie Mainoo at the end of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, in 2026.
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Thomas Tuchel’s selection of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dominic Solanke comparison shows the shift Man Utd needed as well
Thomas Tuchel announced a whopping 35-man England squad last Friday ahead of the start of the March break, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin climbing back into the fold.
Calvert-Lewin appeared as a high-risk, high-reward transfer last summer due to his injury-hit spell with Everton before his contract with the Toffees expired.
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However, Leeds United took the risk that Manchester United were unwilling to take for Calvert-Lewin and the England international has been praised for his performances.
With the pool of attackers to choose from for England, Tuchel’s picks of Calvert-Lewin and Dominic Solanke show the value of a traditional and physical No 9.
“With Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dom Solanke, we have two similar profiles this time in camp,” he told The Football Association’s official website.
“Why? The reason is pretty simple. I want to get to know the two better. I see what they can do, but I want to see them in training, want to feel them and want to see how they can impress in the first part of the camp.
“Ollie Watkins is not with us, but this is more down to the fact that I know what Ollie Watkins can bring to the group – I know him very well.
“We will provide the level of training and the level of care [so] that they can be the best version of themselves.”
Solanke cost Tottenham around £60 million, yet Calvert-Lewin is considered his equal by Tuchel. It is more evidence of the value Leeds got with their free transfer swoop.
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Kobbie Mainoo during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in 2026 in London, England.
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Benjamin Sesko’s role as a ‘mobile’ striker could have been perfectly complemented by Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s physicality
Michael Carrick has alternated between Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo for the lone forward option for Man Utd since his return to Old Trafford in January.
The 44-year-old United legend has been able to benefit from Bryan Mbeumo’s physicality, but also to tap into his aerial threat from the Red Devils’ crosses as well.
Benjamin Sesko, on the other hand, has been much more mobile as the lone striker, despite lacking the physical presence of fellow United summer signing Mbeumo.
If Calvert-Lewin had been signed by United last summer, then Michael Carrick would already have had the ‘perfect Plan B’ option to Sesko for potential striking options.
Instead, Mbeumo has struggled in recent weeks under Carrick and Sesko has continued to impress in attack, despite lacking the physicality of a traditional No 9.
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