Man United hold firm on wages and pivot to Semenyo - Amorim targets pure wide forward, not a wing back

Manchester United stuck to their wage structure as a high-profile target looked elsewhere, while Ruben Amorim made clear he does not want a wing back for the role in question. The club has pivoted with intent toward Antoine Semenyo and Elliot Anderson - both players who fit the aggressive, vertical wide-forward profile Amorim prizes. Confidence is building that United can press ahead quickly. The mood around Carrington is that clarity on the role and the salary grid will speed talks. Expect a focused chase, not scattergun bids, as United align signings with Amorim’s blueprint.

Multiple UK reports indicate United refused to exceed their internal salary bands for an attacking target as the player leaned toward a different destination. Guidance from the new coaching setup suggests the role is for a pure wide forward - not a wing back - which has shaped the shortlist. Separate briefings point to active efforts for Antoine Semenyo, while Elliot Anderson is viewed as a versatile, homegrown option who can operate between the lines. Rival interest from within the Premier League is real, and salary demands elsewhere are notably higher, but United are prioritizing fit and structure.

🚨 BREAKING: Manchester United were not willing to break wage structure and seems player opted against Utd anyway. Ruben Amorim wasn’t planning to use him as wing back. [@sistoney67]

@UtdXclusive

Impact Analysis

Holding the wage line is not just a financial decision - it is a sporting one. United have learned the hard way that breaking structure for short-term buzz invites dressing-room distortion and long-term cap headaches. By protecting the salary grid, the club preserves internal parity and keeps future negotiations predictable. That matters in a summer shaped by PSR constraints and a need to refresh multiple lines.

Tactically, the signal from Ruben Amorim is loud. He wants a direct wide forward who presses high, threatens depth, and links quickly with the nine - not a wing back asked to moonlight. That instantly elevates profiles like Antoine Semenyo, who marries power, pressing intensity, and hard running in transition. His recent numbers for Bournemouth show year-on-year gains in expected goals, successful pressures, and box entries. Elliot Anderson, meanwhile, offers a different tool - ball-carrying into crowded zones, tight combination play, and homegrown value, which matters for squad registration.

The wider impact is cultural. Fans will see a club choosing system fit over star-chasing. It also sharpens recruitment cadence - fewer speculative names, more role-defined targets. If United pair a wide forward who defends forward with a disciplined midfield controller, they address two chronic issues at once: chance quality in transition and territorial stability without the ball. That is how you compress the gap to the top four.

Reaction

Supporter sentiment split along familiar lines. A vocal group praised the wage stance - set the standard, stick to it, no player bigger than the club - arguing this is overdue discipline and a sign United finally have a plan. Another strand pushed back, saying the squad’s real shortage is control, not another forward, and urged priority on midfielders and an all-action striker. Some rival fans crowed that United were snubbed and laughed off the idea of big names accepting lower pay at Old Trafford in 2025.

Names bubbled in the chatter. Antoine Semenyo drew warm reviews for his engine and directness, while Elliot Anderson was cited as a smart, attainable pick who can tilt games in tight spaces. There were side notes about Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo impressing against United in recent meetings, and a chorus predicting a Manchester City move for the original target on massive wages. A minority aired doom-laden takes about finishing outside the Champions League spots without a headline signing. But the core of the fan debate landed on identity: if Amorim’s blueprint is clear, supporters want signings that run through the plan, not around it.

Social reactions

A brief from losers running the club

Daniel (@Daniel996468361)

United been mugged right off 🤣 we love to see it.

. (@SteveyGuv)

Watched cunha and mbuemo play against utd and they really stood out, never got that impression with . Manchester United don't need that type of player as a priority anyway. Midfielders, wing backs and striker all needed way more. Won't be a starter at city anyway.

🔴⚪⚫ (@adfm98)

Prediction

Short term, expect United to intensify talks with Bournemouth for Semenyo. The profile fits, the fee sits in a workable band, and there is room inside United’s wage grid for a rising Premier League attacker. If negotiations stall on structure, United can add reachable bonuses tied to minutes and output - an approach that has landed well with players who back themselves.

In parallel, conversations around Elliot Anderson are likely to hinge on Newcastle’s sales strategy and Premier League PSR timelines. A homegrown, versatile attacker who lowers registration friction suits United’s medium-term build, and his salary expectations align with the current policy. If either primary path wobbles, expect United to test Brentford’s stance on Bryan Mbeumo and keep tabs on Wolves’ position regarding Matheus Cunha. Michael Olise’s switch to Bayern recalibrated the elite winger market, but it also thinned the queue of disruptive wide men available this window.

On the tactical front, Amorim will push for a wide forward who can defend first action, squeeze build-up, and attack the channel early. That means pace and work rate get equal billing with goals. With a controller added behind - whether this window or next - United can shift from firefighting to flow, making a late top-four push plausible if deals land on schedule.

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Conclusion

United made two statements today. First, the wage ladder is not for breaking. Second, the role on the wing is for a true forward, not a repurposed wing back. Those choices will not win every headline, but they usually win seasons. Antoine Semenyo and Elliot Anderson are not vanity picks - they are system fits. One brings thrust and repeat sprints that bend back lines. The other offers craft between the lines and homegrown stability. Together, they lower risk and raise the ceiling on how Amorim wants to play.

The market will test United’s resolve. Fees for Premier League attackers rarely come cheap, and rivals will try to squeeze. But clarity helps. With a defined profile and a firm salary model, United can move with speed and avoid the scatter that has cost them windows in the past. Land one wide forward who runs hard without the ball and you change the team’s body language. Land that player and a midfield organizer and you change the league table. The message from Carrington is simple: fit first, structure intact, and momentum to follow.