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Today — 20 December 2025Main stream

Sources: Man United “looking” at replacing failed Amorim signing, two possible targets

20 December 2025 at 16:13

I saw an interesting Manchester United transfer story this morning that prompted me to do a bit more digging because something didn’t quite add up.

We know the Red Devils are serious about Antoine Semenyo, with Fabrizio Romano and others now confirming what we covered first here regarding the Bournemouth and Ghana winger.

This exclusive was first published on the Daily Briefing – click here to subscribe and get these stories first, delivered straight to your inbox, and with no ads!

However, one new detail I saw appeared to hint quite strongly at another priority for Ruben Amorim in a key position in his squad.

That position is left-back, or wing-back in Amorim’s system, with the Sun suggesting Semenyo could be signed as a surprise option in that position due to huge concerns over Patrick Dorgu.

Now, Semenyo is one of the most in-form players in the Premier League this season, but a wing-back he ain’t, so surely the club are targeting him to play in their front three, even if Dorgu is in danger.

Sources confirm Manchester United exploring left-back transfer

Patrick Dorgu lining up for the Danish national team
Patrick Dorgu lining up for the Danish national team (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

As first reported here for the Daily Briefing, a well-connected source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, I had it confirmed to me that United are indeed already looking to replace Dorgu.

“It’s no secret that he (Dorgu) has had a difficult time at United,” my source said. “Coming in as a starter…it was too soon for him. They’ll be looking at that position, for sure.”

Asking around for specific names has proven a bit harder, but I can point towards players I’ve heard about before, even if I can’t exactly guarantee they’re going to be priorities, while other clubs might also have made more progress on those deals.

Names to watch: Nathaniel Brown and Tino Livramento

One player who’s attracting a lot of interest across Europe at the moment is Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown.

As reported earlier this week, my latest information is that Arsenal are probably the club with the strongest interest in Brown right now.

It is worth mentioning, however, that United have been mentioned by some very reliable journalists in recent times as well, such as Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany.

I’ve also previously been told about Newcastle’s Tino Livramento being on their radar, but again, the strongest interest has appeared to come from another club, this time Manchester City.

Man United’s left-back situation – a blurry picture

In short, we can’t know for sure what’s going to happen here, but for what it’s worth, here’s my analysis of the situation.

United have presumably kept tabs on players like Brown and Livramento, but not as an urgent priority as they’ve been waiting to see how Dorgu might improve.

Now that that’s not looking like happening, speculation over the Denmark international’s situation is growing, and so we should soon learn a bit more about who the targets will be to replace him.

I’d expect a central midfielder like Elliot Anderson or Carlos Baleba will still be the priority, but this is also clearly the start of something.

The post Sources: Man United “looking” at replacing failed Amorim signing, two possible targets appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Semenyo could play surprise position for Man United to replace player “ruined” by Amorim

20 December 2025 at 10:37

Manchester United could reportedly sign Antoine Semenyo to play a slightly different position due to the struggles of Patrick Dorgu at left wing-back.

The Red Devils brought in Dorgu from Lecce last January, but it would be fair to say the Denmark international has had a slow start to life at Old Trafford.

According to the Sun, United sources feel Dorgu has been “ruined” by being used too much by Ruben Amorim, and it could mean Semenyo is brought in as a key addition on that left-hand side.

Semenyo has shone in attack for Bournemouth this season, but if it’s true that Man Utd are looking at him to replace Dorgu then that would mean the 25-year-old coming in to play as a wing-back, rather than as a wide-forward in the front three.

Manchester United competing with Manchester City for Antoine Semenyo

As per Fabrizio Romano in the X post below, United and City have both started talks over signing Semenyo as he’s available for £65m this January.

See below for details as both Manchester clubs battle for the in-form Ghana international…

? Antoine Semenyo, expected to move in January with £65m release clause valid until around day 10.

Manchester United and Manchester City both called this week, pushing and in direct talks.

Decision up to the player on his future.

?? More: https://t.co/B5MdSXih6B pic.twitter.com/lq5flU6Fea

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 19, 2025

“Antoine Semenyo, expected to move in January with £65m release clause valid until around day 10. Manchester United and Manchester City both called this week, pushing and in direct talks. Decision up to the player on his future,” Romano said.

With seven goals and three assists in 15 league games so far this season, it’s clear that Semenyo is one of the most in-form attacking players in the country right now, and that surely means he’d be a bit wasted as a wing-back, where he’d be required to do more tracking back.

Can Patrick Dorgu bounce back at Man United?

Patrick Dorgu in action for Manchester United
Patrick Dorgu in action for Manchester United (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Dorgu looked like a superb talent at Lecce, and he’s still young enough that he could surely turn his Old Trafford career around.

The 21-year-old has been out of the starting XI recently and it might be that he’ll benefit from a bit of a break after being thrown in at the deep end by Amorim.

However, it is also alarming that the Sun quote sources as saying there’s the feeling that the player has already been “ruined” by his early experiences at United.

The post Semenyo could play surprise position for Man United to replace player “ruined” by Amorim appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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