Yan Diomande has been linked to fill the LW spot at Man Utd but Ineos’ latest target is a far better fit for their plan at Old Trafford.
The major Ruben Amorim legacy from his time at Man Utd is an abundance of centre-backs and a paucity of wingers.
Matheus Cunha is doing a great job right now, and Patrick Dorgu is an intriguing option as well, but the club need more than just makeshift options.
Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig has stayed consistent as a potential target, but a far better option would be a player who fits the Ineos playbook perfectly.
Amad Diallo battles for possession in Manchester United kit.
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Iliman Ndiaye is a better option than Yan Diomande
The traits that attract United towards Diomande are exactly the ones possessed by Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, but he also ticks a major box in the process.
Diomande has been sensational this season, but this is still his first truly world-class year, so there are reservations about whether this is his actual level.
At 19, he might also just be too raw to tackle the Premier League right now, especially at Old Trafford.
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From a squad planning perspective, Diomande’s age will make JJ Gabriel and Shea Lacey think twice about committing their futures at United, much like Senne Lammens’ success will have Radek Vitek wary about his prospects.
Most importantly, however, is the fact that Ndiaye is Premier League proven, whereas Diomande is barely even reliably top-level proven.
Ineos have shown a preference for signing PL-proven players for positions that require immediate impact, and a 26-year-old Ndiaye having a brilliant season is similar to Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo’s signings.
The asterisk is that Everton will drive a hard bargain for Ndiaye, but if Leipzig want north of £80m for a 19-year-old Diomande, then is Ndiaye really that big of a risk?
Ndiaye fixes Man Utd’s major attacking problem
Beyond the financial and sporting reasons that make Ndiaye a much better target than Diomande, the tactical data also supports the Everton man.
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Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Selhurst Park in 2025 in London, England.
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United’s ability to break down low blocks has been questioned repeatedly, but the reality is that you can’t coach teams into beating low blocks.
For that, you simply need players who can take their man on and beat him off the dribble in 1v1s, scrambling the defensive shape.
Currently, United don’t have that player who runs at the defence, except for Amad, and the odd magical moment from Cunha.
Ndiaye is a relentless dribbler, and against Premier League defenders, tasked with carrying Everton up the pitch almost single-handedly at times.
Diomande isn’t a bad dribbler either, but United will be wary of the “Bundesliga tax” after signing Jadon Sancho, because the German game is played at a breakneck pace, heavily reliant on transitions.
In a slow, physical, and attritional game that United face against most sides, Ndiaye can be the lockpicker in a team full of door-busters.
If the choice comes down to Ndiaye vs Diomande, there’s only one correct answer, and it’s not Diomande.
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