INEOS’s Late Bid for “Strong” Midfielder Falls Short for Manchester United

Manchester United’s difficult season continued as they failed in a last-minute attempt to bolster their midfield on transfer deadline day. The club, under new ownership from INEOS, tried to secure a loan deal for Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz but were ultimately unsuccessful.

United’s struggles this season have been well-documented, with the team currently sitting 13th in the Premier League table after a disappointing 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace. New manager Ruben Amorim has struggled to turn things around since taking over, and the club’s transfer activity in January did little to address their on-field issues.

While United did manage to sign young defender Patrick Dorgu from Lecce, they lost both Antony and Marcus Rashford during the window. This left them short of attacking options, forcing Amorim to play midfielder Kobbie Mainoo as a striker against Palace.

The failed bid for Luiz came too late in the window for Juventus to find a replacement, as they had already allowed Nicolò Fagioli to leave for Fiorentina. The Italian club opted to keep Luiz for depth, leaving United without the midfield reinforcement they sought.

Former Sporting Director Monchi had previously praised Luiz as a “strong” player, and the Brazilian had been linked with a return to the Premier League throughout the window. However, United’s late approach was not enough to secure his services.

This setback leaves Manchester United with limited options in midfield for the remainder of the season, as they look to salvage a European place from their disappointing campaign. The failure to land Luiz highlights the challenges faced by the new INEOS ownership in their first transfer window at Old Trafford.