Lamine Yamal’s “toughest opponent” would love to join Man Utd with January move on
Michael Carrick is on the ropes at Man United and badly needs a win, but the Red Devils have been handed a transfer boost.
A 4-1 hammering at Como has left his side without a win in seven matches across all competitions, with United firmly in the bottom half of the Premier League and Bournemouth visiting Old Trafford on Sunday.
It is a brutal change of mood for a manager who led United back into the Champions League last season. He landed the permanent job in May, but the goodwill from that recovery is being eaten up with every poor result.
Carrick accepted responsibility for the slump on Friday and insisted he could turn things around, but two wins from 11 games hardly make a convincing case for patience.
The names being linked with his job tell their own story.
TalkSPORT report that Julian Nagelsmann has been sounded out, while Eddie Howe and Antonio Conte have also entered the conversation.
Conte has since denied advanced talks, while Brighton boss Fabian Hürzeler, another reported contender, has stressed his commitment to his current club.
Yet the uncertainty in the dugout has not stopped fresh transfer links emerging, with David Raum now firmly in the picture for January.
Man United eye David Raum swoop as Michael Carrick battles mounting pressure
Mark Brus, writing in The Daily Briefing, reports that United regard the RB Leipzig defender as a leading option for the winter window.
There is encouragement from the player’s side, too. Raum is said to fancy a crack at English football, with those around him believing Old Trafford would seriously appeal.
His deal runs until the summer of 2027, and that puts Leipzig on the clock.
|
David Raum’s stats for RB Leipzig last season |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Competition |
Appearances |
Goals |
Assists |
|
Bundesliga |
30 |
3 |
7 |
|
DFB-Pokal |
4 |
0 |
2 |
|
Total, 2025/26 |
34 |
3 |
9 |
Without an extension, January would leave them weighing up an offer against the risk of losing him without a transfer fee a few months later.
Raum, 28, would bring experience to the left side of the defence, and he also has a striking reference from a winger who knows exactly how difficult he can be to beat.
Speaking to Tuttosport in 2024 after facing Germany at the Euros, Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal called Raum the “toughest opponent” he’s faced and a “solid defender”.
That is some praise from one of Europe’s standout attackers, even if defending in the Premier League would bring its own weekly challenges.
His attacking numbers offer another reason to take notice.
Raum finished last season with three goals and nine assists for Leipzig, with seven of those assists coming in the Bundesliga and another two in the German Cup.
For United, that sort of contribution would be welcome.
Leipzig still have a player to replace, and United would need to decide how much they are prepared to pay for someone approaching the final months of his deal.
There is also the small matter of who would be coaching him.
Carrick’s immediate concern is Bournemouth. A January signing can’t help him collect three points this weekend, and the longer this run drags on, the louder the questions about his future will become.
