manutdnews.com

3-4-3 & 4-3-3: £65m January transfer could help Amorim transform Man United Xi, Ineos must act…

Manchester United have reportedly locked onto Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo as a prime January target.

The 25-year-old has a release clause worth £65 million that activates from the start of next month.

This clause will decrease further in the summer, but it is widely believed that Semenyo will move to a new club in January.

United are far from alone in the chase, with Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool all monitoring his situation closely.

Nominally a right-footed winger, Semenyo has intriguingly taken 55% of his shots with his left foot since the start of last season, underlining his unpredictability.

That ambidexterity, combined with his physical profile, makes him a rare and tantalising opportunity for an elite club.

Here we look at how Semenyo could transform the United XI if he moves to the Theatre of Dreams.

Left wing-back in 3-4-2-1

The left wing-back is clearly a problem area for the Red Devils.

Patrick Dorgu is a fine talent but he is too raw to play regularly for United.

While Diogo Dalot has shown improvement, his skill set still leans more naturally towards a traditional full-back role.

Semenyo thrives in wide areas and embraces the physical demands of the flank.

He relishes taking defenders on, whether by driving to the byline for a cross or cutting inside to unleash a shot.

He is also defensively sharp and possesses breakneck pace that could help him recover ground.

Earlier in the season, manager Ruben Amorim openly spoke about wanting a profile similar to Amad Diallo on the opposite side.

Semenyo fits that brief almost perfectly.

Left-winger in 4-3-3

Amorim is famously committed to his back-three system, but he has shown a willingness to tweak shapes in the last two games.

The Red Devils frequently morphed into a 4-3-3 for extended spells, with Amad Diallo pushing high and wide on the right.

Luke Shaw was also seen operating as a left-back in the second half.

The Portuguese head coach wants his wingers/number 10s to attack the half-spaces and drive inside relentlessly.

As a right-footed attacker, Semenyo would be tailor-made for the left-wing role in this system.

He could dart inside to overload central areas while freeing the full-back to bomb forward and stretch the pitch.

In short, Semenyo would not just add depth, he could redefine how United attack from the left.

Read full news in source page