Manchester United have been so busy in the transfer market that it can be easy to overlook that the new season doesn’t officially get underway until 1 July.
This is the date when financial accounts reset and pre-season preparations kick off. When that happens, Man Utd will have at least four new players joining the squad.
Matheus Cunha leads the arrivals, signing early from Wolves, while the club are hoping Bryan Mbeumo will be part of the squad by the time they report back for pre-season training in early July.
Enzo Kana-Biyik will be joining up with those two senior names, but Fabrizio Romano has shared a picture of a fourth signing who could arrive even earlier.
Fabrizio Romano shares new picture of Diego Leon along with travel details
Diego Leon, whose arrival has flown under the radar amid the bigger moves, is another name to keep an eye on.
Just 18 but already compared to Marcelo for his athleticism and style, Leon is far from an ordinary teenage signing out of Paraguay.
He has represented Paraguay at youth level, stood out in the Copa Libertadores with Cerro Porteno, and is widely viewed as one of the most promising young talents in the game.
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United reached an agreement for Leon back in January, but he remained with his club until the European season wrapped up. Reports at the time suggested he would d make his move official on 1 July.
Now, Fabrizio Romano has shared an update, posting a new picture and noting that Leon is set to make the move to England ‘next week’ to begin his chapter at United.
Diego Leon’s Man Utd chances
Leon is somewhere between being a raw prospect and someone who, unlike Sekou Kone when he arrived, has already experienced higher-level competition.
Perhaps even more importantly, he already looks physically ready for senior football, which is often the sticking point for young players trying to make the leap
Expect him to feature in pre-season, where he’ll have a chance to test himself against Premier League sides.
If he adapts quickly, there is a real possibility he could jump straight into first-team contention, possibly challenging Harry Amass for the backup left-back role.
And with Patrick Dorgu capable of playing on the right, it would give Ruben Amorim more flexibility in a position where the physical demands are relentless.
He may also get minutes with the U21s, using that time to round out his technical skills without as much pressure.
With so much change happening at United, there’s never been a better moment for young players to make an impression. If Leon takes his chances, there’s every reason to believe he could carve out an immediate place for himself in the squad.
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