Man Utd handed shot at signing ‘one of Europe’s standout wingers’ as Amorim targets Saka-type talent

Robin Bairner

Updated: 6 Dec 2025 11:55 GMT
9 min read

Ruben Amorim, Man Utd, Bukayo Saka — © IMAGO

Manchester United are one of a number of clubs tracking Anderlecht winger Nilson Angulo, who is enjoying a breakout season in Belgium and has been favourably compared to Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka.

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United’s need for attacking depth was made evident on Thursday as they were held to a 1-1 home draw against West Ham United in the Premier League, with Ruben Amorim unable to call on quality from his bench to help change the direction of the game.

With Bryan Mbeumo away at AFCON in little over a week, Amorim’s depth is set to be further tested, and the prospect of picking up a young talent similar in style to Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka on a relatively cheap deal is one that United have been told is a smart move.

Current ETV

Nilson Angulo

F, M (L)

Anderlecht

Nilson Angulo

F, M (L)

Anderlecht

ETV Range

€4.6M - €6.2M

Man Utd studying Angulo deal

Man Utd are “looking closely” at Angulo along with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford, Brighton and Leeds, according to TeamTalk.

Angulo has scored four times for Anderlecht this term and has provided eight assists, leading the 22-year-old to be described as “one of Europe’s standout wingers”.

A January move is not certain, though. Angulo is focused on going to the World Cup with Ecuador and does not want to jeopardise his chances by making a move now.

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Nilson Angulo: Strengths and weaknesses analysed

Nilson Angulo is a classic winger who likes to take players on. Dribbling is a major strength of his, while he rates among the best finishers and crossers in the Jupiler Pro League this season, according to data analytics firm SciSports.

He is also strong out of possession, which is an attribute that Amorim is known to require. He has been excellent at forcing turnovers.

In terms of his playing style, SciSports compares him favourably to Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka, although it should be stressed that Angulo is not in the same bracket as the England ace in terms of his quality.

Nilson Angulo vs Jupiler Pro League wingers: Overall performance (2025/26)

This is underlined by the fact that his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at just €5.4 million, more than doubling since the start of the season.

A low price could entice United to make a move. Angulo is currently a relatively low-cost gamble. While he would be given game time due to United’s shortage of players in his position, he is not someone who they would be reliant upon beyond a fringe role. If he were to continue his development, it would be an excellent bonus.

SciSports does highlight a lack of speed as a potential weakness in Angulo’s game, while there are also doubts as to whether he has the ability in the long term to have the quality of anything more than a backup player at Man Utd.

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