Manchester United go into the final few weeks of the 2025-26 Premier League season in a spot that seemed impossible just three months ago. Ruben Amorim was sacked in January after less than 14 months, with former midfielder Michael Carrick taking over as head coach for the rest of the campaign. Since then, the shift has been massive.
Under Carrick, the club has picked up 7 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss in 10 league games. It was a run featuring huge wins over Manchester City and Arsenal. Currently sitting third with 55 points after 31 matches, they are just one point ahead of Aston Villa. With seven games left, Champions League qualification is right there for the taking. The upcoming summer window could change everything, and the names linked with Old Trafford suggest INEOS plans to be aggressive.
Manchester United target Denzel Dumfries as Liverpool hijack looms
Italian outlet L’Interista reports that Manchester United are seriously interested in Inter Milan right wing-back Denzel Dumfries. This puts them head-to-head with Liverpool, who were first linked with the Dutchman after his agents reached out to the Merseyside club on April 1. Reports suggest United are ready to start talks with both Dumfries and Inter to set up a summer move, though Manchester City, Newcastle, and Aston Villa are also keeping an eye on him. Inter are trying to get the 29-year-old to sign a new deal, specifically to scrap the €25 million release clause that makes him such a bargain for Premier League sides. (Via One Football)
How has Dumfries performed?
So far in the 2025-26 Serie A season, Dumfries has played 11 league matches, scoring once and averaging nearly one tackle per game. In the Champions League, he started all four of his appearances and netted two goals. While his contract in Italy runs until 2028, Casemiro is set to leave Old Trafford this summer, leaving the right side as a priority for United. With Liverpool also in the hunt, United’s pitch hinges on clinching a Champions League spot to gain the upper hand.
Carrick to continue at Old Trafford? What options do Manchester United really have
Does Dumfries actually solve the right problem for Manchester United?
The honest answer is that probably not on his own. Dumfries is a talented player, but he shines at Inter because their system suits him perfectly. He has the freedom to charge down the wing and the cover to track back. United’s right-back issue isn’t just about talent; it’s about tactical fit. Carrick has moved away from Amorim’s back three, which changes what the team need from that position. Putting Dumfries in a back four asks him to play as a traditional full-back rather than the wing-back role where he plays his best football.
Even at a reasonable £22 million, Manchester United risk buying a player who fits last season’s tactics better than whoever takes the permanent job this summer. The smarter move for INEOS would be to nail down the next head coach first. They should only go after Dumfries if he actually suits that manager’s specific plan, rather than just signing him because the price is right or to stop Liverpool from getting him.
