21 May 2026 10:54 BST |
5 min read
Bruno Fernandes equalled the Premier League assist record for a single season last weekend, and now Michael Carrick is plotting a move that could make the Portugal international playmaker even more dangerous.
Heavy favourite to land the Man Utd job on a permanent basis, Carrick has had months to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the Old Trafford squad after first hand. Now he will be given the influence to shape it in his own fashion.
And his first move is one that could unlock Bruno to make the 31-year-old even more dangerous from open play.
Julian Ryerson to Man Utd: The latest
Man Utd are targeting Julian Ryerson. While the move for a backup right-back may not be the obvious place to raise excitement for supporters, the decision to potentially replace Noussair Mazroui with Borussia Dortmund’s Ryerson promises to be a symbolic move of what’s the come in the Carrick era.
These links with Man Utd have emerged from a report from Sky Sport Deutschland expert Partick Berger, who claims that United are considering a €30 million approach for the Norway international full-back, who has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €22.1m.
Dortmund are said to be open to a move, with United ‘monitoring’ the player as a potential alternative to Mazraoui.
The Morocco international has been peripheral under Carrick, and when he has started, it has rarely been in his favoured right-back berth. He has been used as a left-back and also a central defender in recent times.
Mazraoui is therefore vulnerable to leaving Old Trafford.
Ryerson vs Mazraoui
On the face of things, there’s not a great deal of difference between Ryerson and Mazraoui. Physically they both offer the same profile as they stand 1.83m tall and have similar athletic abilities in terms of speed and stamina. They are both also 28 years old, so have similar experience levels.
Even in terms of their ability levels, the duo can barely be differentiated. According to SciSports, which generates a SciSkill rating based on hundreds of in-game data points, Mazraoui scores 97.9 while Ryerson hits 95.5.
The crucial difference between the players is in their style. Mazraoui is conservative and safety-first, Ryerson is much more of an attacking threat, having delivered 10 assists across all competitions this season. By contrast, the former Bayern Munich player has yet to deliver a single one.
Ryerson to ease the weight on Fernandes
Bundesliga expert Ronan Murphy explains why the arrival of Ryerson could be a game-changer for United – and Bruno Fernandes in particular:
“Julian Ryerson took a longer path to the top than some other players, having to often watch from the bench after joining Union Berlin from Viking. He worked hard on and off the pitch and eventually earned a place in the starting XI, where his defensive contributions helped keep them in the Bundesliga.
“An injury crisis at Borussia Dortmund saw them take a risk on the unheralded full-back, but it was greatly rewarded as he added an extra attacking dimension to his game.
“Now, Ryerson is an assists machine, so it is no surprise that Man Utd are sniffing around as they look to get balls into the box from other areas of the pitch rather than just through Bruno Fernandes in the middle.
“United were far too reliant on Fernandes this season, so the addition of Ryerson would give them an extra attacking threat as well as a reliable defender.”
Mazraoui out and Ryerson in suggests that Carrick has a vision of Man Utd that is on the front foot and is exciting. It’s a move steeped in the traditions of the Old Trafford side, and will surely be welcomed by fans and Bruno Fernandes alike.
Related stories:
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Premier League most assists: Fernandes has one game to set outright record
Transfer Rumours: Man Utd blow Arsenal out of the water with €100m Mateus Fernandes move
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