Man Utd want to sign “one of the best LWs in the world”

It felt as if at one stage Manchester United were inundated with left-wingers, with almost every attacking arrival looking at their best in that role.

The shift to a 3-4-2-1 under Ruben Amorim no doubt put paid to that, however, with Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford all shipped off last summer, as United cleared the decks in the forward line.

With Michael Carrick now at the helm, that raft of outgoings has left the Englishman a little light on the flanks, it must be said, even with the aforementioned Rashford in line to return this summer.

Indeed, Patrick Dorgu’s future could potentially still lie at left-back or on the right wing, while £62.5m man Matheus Cunha has been Brazil’s leading number nine at the World Cup so far, the 27-year-old looking far more effective centrally than out wide.

For all the midfield talk then, securing a new left-sided player should also be a priority heading into next season.

Man Utd make first move to sign Summerville alternative

Having missed out on West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes, the Red Devils could again return to the London Stadium to negotiate a deal for Dutch winger, Crysencio Summerville.

Talks are said to have been held regarding a potential move for the former Leeds United man, albeit with much set to depend on what the future holds for Rashford, following his return from Barcelona.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be in the race for the 24-year-old, while the two clubs could also battle it out for Rafael Leao‘s signature, amid talk of an exit from AC Milan for the Portuguese star.

As per Italian outlet Gazzetta, United have opened initial talks to sign the former Lille man, with Leao not deemed to be part of new boss Amorim’s plans at San Siro.

Both Barca and the Old Trafford side haven’t gone beyond those early enquiries as yet, while Spurs have been offered the chance to strike a deal of their own.

In terms of an asking price, the 27-year-old could fetch around €70m (£60m), although a loan with an option to buy hasn’t been ruled out.

How Leao compares to Summerville as left-wing option

It feels like a familiar story emerging in Milan, with Leao likely to be cast aside as he doesn’t suit Amorim’s preferred set-up, despite having been a talismanic figure for the Italian outfit for over half a decade now.

Amorim’s inability to bend and change is well known to those back in Manchester – just ask Kobbie Mainoo – although his willingness to offer up Leao could be to United and INEOS’ gain.

Milan are not the side of decades gone by, far from it, but the Portugal speedster is still a genuinely special talent, hailed as “one of the best left-wingers in the world” by analyst and Como scout, Ben Mattinson.

Even while drifting in and out of the team under recent managers at San Siro, Leao’s level has still been remarkably consistent, so often delivering the goods in that left channel.

His Serie A record speaks for itself, totalling at least 12 goals and assists in every season since the start of the 2020/21 campaign, having joined the club from Lille a year earlier.

Across 2025/26, meanwhile, he did score nine and chip in with three assists, despite only starting 23 league games, having missed ten ‘big chances’ but also created ten ‘big chances’ in total.

That reliability and consistency hasn’t exactly been matched by Summerville, the younger man only scoring and assisting seven Premier League goals in 2025/26, after contributing just two the year prior.

He did better Leao in terms of successful dribbles completed per game last season (1.6 vs 0.9), albeit while having only created four ‘big chances’, after missing seven himself.

There’s an explosiveness to Summerville’s game that is truly exciting, but his best work to date has only come in the Championship, after registering 28 goals and assists for Leeds in 2023/24.

Leao, meanwhile, has regularly been the difference-maker at Champions League level, by contrast, notably registering four goals and assists in just ten outings in the competition in 2024/25.

Summerville might boast Premier League experience, but you can’t say he’s necessarily ripped it up on a consistent basis, with all his goals last time out coming in a swift spree in early 2026.

Leao, even if yet to enjoy life in England, has been such a force for so long now in one of Europe’s top five leagues, a player seemingly entering his peak years who could take United’s attacking to a new level.

Summerville could well be a more attainable target, but INEOS would be wise to try and push the boat out a little instead.