da pinnacle： Michael Carrick secured a perfect start to life as Manchester United manager yesterday, subsequently beating rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford.

da poker： The 44-year-old masterminded a victory over Pep Guardiola’s men in the Manchester Derby, with Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu’s goals enough to secure bragging rights for the supporters.

Such a showing is a testament to the new boss for making an immediate impact in the role, with the board seemingly making the correct call in handing him the job on a temporary basis.

As a result, the Red Devils hierarchy could look to hand Carrick the funds he craves to make the additions he desires to continue his excellent start in the role at the Theatre of Dreams.

In the last couple of days, numerous players have been identified as potential options in the window, with an area of the pitch set to be bolstered in the weeks ahead.

Man Utd targeting move for £26m sensation

The United defensive department looks set to be improved in the near future, with numerous options currently being considered by the hierarchy at present.

Nottingham Forest star Murillo is just one player currently in their sights, with the Brazilian star a player who has been on the radar of numerous Premier League clubs in the last few months.

However, any deal would likely be an expensive one, with Sean Dyche’s side currently demanding a fee in the region of £70m to part ways with the centre-back in the near future.

Murillo isn’t the only option currently in the hierarchy’s sights in an attempt to improve the backline, with Juventus star Pierre Kalulu another star under consideration.

According to Calciomercato, the Red Devils are considering a move for the Frenchman this month, but they’re not alone in the pursuit of the defender’s signature.

The report also states that fellow top-flight sides such as Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur are also firmly in the race to land the 25-year-old during the ongoing window.

It also goes on to confirm his current employers don’t want to sell him during the winter window, but they could be forced to offload him if an offer of €30m (£26m) is presented.

Why Kalulu would be better than Murillo for United

The recent rumours coming out of Old Trafford highlight the area Carrick and the board are looking to bolster before the current window slams shut in two weeks time.

For the recent victory over Manchester City at Old Trafford, the manager utilised Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez at the heart of the backline – with the duo keeping danger man Erling Haaland out throughout the contest.

However, the former of the aforementioned duo’s contract expires at the end of the current campaign, which leaves the club with a huge decision to make on the 32-year-old’s future.

Other options, such as Matthijs de Ligt, Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro are also available to the temporary manager, but it’s evident that added reinforcements are being demanded.

As previously mentioned, Murillo is just one of the options being considered, but his current asking price could be one that is somewhat more than the hierarchy are willing to pay.

As a result, Kalulu could be a more viable option, but when comparing his stats to those of the Brazilian, he’s massively dominated in numerous key areas.

The Frenchman, who’s been dubbed “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has completed more of his attempted passes, whilst making more progressive passes per 90.

How Kalulu & Murillo compare in 2025/26

Statistics (per 90)

Kalulu

Murillo

Games played

21

16

Goals & assists

3

1

Pass accuracy

87%

83%

Progressive passes

5.6

4.1

Tackles made

1.6

1.5

Progressive carries

1.9

0.3

Recoveries made

4.3

4.2

Aerials won

57%

56%

Stats via FBref

Such numbers showcase the Frenchman’s talent with the ball at his feet, with Kalulu having the ball-playing ability needed to fit into the current United backline.

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He’s also made more tackles per 90, whilst also making recoveries per 90, subsequently showcasing his dominance without the ball in the defensive third of the pitch.

Other stats, such as 57% aerials won, highlight his ability to outperform Murillo in the defensive third, with the deal for Kalulu undoubtedly making more sense for the Red Devils.

From the stats produced, it’s clear that the Juventus star is a superb ball-playing defender, but one that could certainly offer an added boost without the ball to Carrick’s side.

The Frenchman is also a massively cheaper option at present, with the hierarchy able to land Kalulu at a fee that is more than two times cheaper than that of Murillo.

If he can replicate his skillset from Serie A this campaign with any move to the Premier League, such a deal would be a phenomenal one and one that could allow Carrick to maintain his incredible start.

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