Man Utd-linked Yan Diomande excels in pressing stat also dominated by Elliot Anderson

Manchester United’s recruitment radar has zeroed in on two emerging stars who share a commanding trait: the ability to dominate duels. Yan Diomande, the 19-year-old RB Leipzig winger, and Everton midfielder Elliot Anderson are both topping their respective leagues in duels won, underlining why Ineos have placed them high on the summer 2026 shortlist.

Diomande, already a full Ivory Coast international and former AFCON team-mate of Amad Diallo, has produced eight goals and six assists in 22 Bundesliga appearances this season, yet it is his off-ball industry that has turned heads. League data shows the teenager has won 279 duels, 28 more than his nearest challenger, Kaishu Sano, despite operating from a wide role. His top speed of 36.3 km/h adds another layer of Premier League-ready physicality.

Across the Channel, Anderson has cemented his status as United’s primary midfield target by leading the Premier League with 223 duels won in 2025/26. Everton defender James Tarkowski trails in second with 177, while United’s own top performer in this metric, Patrick Dorgu, has 140.

United’s technical staff view the pair as ideal reinforcements for a squad being remodelled around intensity and ball-winning power. With Anderson’s standout display against Liverpool still fresh in scouts’ notebooks and Diomande’s relationship with Diallo offering a potential dressing-room ally, Ineos see the duo as emblematic of the club’s new physical blueprint.