Wilcox leading Man Utd chase to sign £80m Cunha upgrade

Squad depth, or the lack of it, has been the key concern following Manchester United’s defeat at home to Leeds United on Monday night, with that 2-1 loss exposing just how limited Michael Carrick’s ranks truly are.

Take out a piece or two in Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo, and everything appears to fall apart, while the use of only two substitutes highlighted Carrick’s potential lack of faith in those on the periphery.

Even regular starters, like Amad and Matheus Cunha, have been inconsistent, the Ivorian still stuck on just two goals and two assists in the Premier League this season, while the £62.5m Brazilian has scored just once in his last eight top-flight games.

The Red Devils do boast a direct replacement in the form of Bryan Mbeumo, although ahead of a 2025/26 campaign that could see the club return to European action, further firepower is looking increasingly essential.

Man Utd among Premier League clubs chasing £80m signing

After a summer that saw Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Rasmus Hojlund all leave Old Trafford, United are perhaps beginning to pay the price for the lack of options in that forward line.

Carrick’s side have now won just one of their last four league games, while their last three goals have come courtesy of Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and a James Hill own goal away at Bournemouth.

Amad hasn’t scored in 2026, Mbeumo hasn’t scored since the win over Tottenham Hotspur, and Cunha’s only goal since early February came against Aston Villa, now even behind Casemiro in the scoring charts.

With that in mind, it might be music to the ears of United supporters to learn that, as per Ben Jacobs – writing in the GIVEMESPORT newsletter – Jason Wilcox and co are in the mix for Aston Villa sensation, Morgan Rogers.

According to Jacobs, the 23-year-old is ‘one option’ being considered by the INEOS regime, with Rogers having been at Manchester City at the same time as Wilcox, while subsequently working under Carrick at Middlesbrough.

There is said to be a ‘concrete possibility’ that the Englishman leaves Villa Park this summer, even if he is not pushing for a move, with Jacobs believing that the Midlands side may do business for a fee of £80m plus, as was his valuation a year ago.

Why Rogers would be an upgrade on Cunha

As the report notes, regardless of whether Carrick stays or goes, a new left-winger is set to be a ‘high priority’, with Cunha the only current option in that role, following the loss of Patrick Dorgu to injury.

Utilising Wilcox – and Carrick’s – connections to get a deal over the line for Rogers would surely be a perfect solution, with the one-time West Bromwich Albion youngster mirroring Cunha as a versatile forward who can operate centrally or off the left.

Acting as a roaming number ten under Unai Emery, Rogers’ ability to drift and cause havoc off the left was notably seen against United back in December, having twice curled home in stunning fashion after breezing past Leny Yoro.

With his powerful frame and innate scoring prowess from range, it’s easy to see why the Three Lions star is such an attractive target, with a prominent role at this summer’s World Cup only likely to boost his status and valuation.

In the view of pundit and England legend, Glenn Hoddle, the way he powers around the pitch is almost “like a Wayne Rooney” in his younger days, such is his ability to hold off defenders and glide forward from deep.

That comparison bodes well for the impact he could make at Old Trafford, with even Rogers’ recent dip not exactly cause for concern, despite scoring just one league goal in 2026.

His tally of eight goals and five assists in the top-flight in total still ensures he would represent an upgrade on Cunha in that role, with the latter man contributing just seven goals and two assists.

Rogers’ tally of 18 goal involvements in all competitions is also only bettered by Fernandes (26) back in Manchester.

This has come after a breakthrough 2024/25 campaign that saw Rogers register 30 goals and assists in his first full season at Villa Park, rightly swooping the PFA Young Player of the Year award as a result – the same accolade Rooney won in his first two years at United.

What also sets Rogers apart is his creative quality, alongside being an elite goalscorer, having created ten ‘big chances’ and averaged 1.3 key passes per game this season.

For comparison, Cunha – likely to be his rival on that side, if he were to join the Red Devils – has created only five ‘big chances’, while averaging just 1.0 key passes per game.

Cunha, it must be said, has more than had his moments this season, but the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man needs to watch out – there’s always a bigger fish.