Man Utd NEED to sign Tyler Dibling: 'Most talented player I've ever seen'

Tom Weber

Updated: 9 Apr 2025 11:36 CDT
4 min read

Tyler Dibling, Southampton, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Manchester United would be well-advised to get serious about their pursuit of Tyler Dibling after Russell Martin's glowing praise of the teenager.

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The Southampton wonderkid has emerged as one of the Premier League's breakout stars this season. Dibling has been pretty much the only positive of what has otherwise been a disastrous campaign for the Saints.

STATS

Tyler Dibling

M (R)

Southampton

Tyler Dibling

M (R)

Southampton

32

Games
4

Goals
2

Assists

Their relegation back to the Championship was confirmed on Sunday with a 3-1 loss to Tottenham, making them the first side in Premier League history to be relegated with seven games to spare.

Dibling is not expected to stick around for a season in the Championship as he is being courted by high-profile sides at home and abroad. Man Utd, in particular, have been heavily linked with a move for the tricky winger due to the presence of former Saints sporting director Jason Wilcox.

Initially, the youngster was hit with a whopping €100+ million price tag, but such a fee has been deemed unrealistic considering Southampton's weak negotiating position after their demotion.

Dibling could become a Premier League great

In an interview with Gary Lineker, ex-Southampton head coach Russell Martin has now spoken about his former protégé, whom he introduced to senior football.

Martin, who got Southampton promoted but was sacked in December, waxed lyrical about Dibling and tipped him to become a household name in the Premier League.

"When I was there, I had to try and play it down a lot, and I don't want to make things more difficult for him, but he is the most talented player I've ever seen or worked with, so seen live, seen on the training pitch.

"I worked with James Maddison at that age at Norwich, he was outstanding. Tyler has every capability to go on and play for England and at the top level for a very long time because he's powerful, he's really quick, both feet, can shoot.

"I worked with Harry Kane at 21 when he came to Norwich on loan as well. Physically, the stuff I've seen him [Dibling] do at 18 in the Premier League of people just bouncing off him, being put on the floor when he dribbles the ball, he has something I've not seen in a British player in a long time.

"To play in the middle of the park and be able to take the ball and swivel and go. He'll play as a No.8 or a 10 eventually. He can play wide. We played him as a false 9 in pre-season, he was our best player. It was my fault for not playing him the first few games in the Premier League.

"I thought he needed more time, but he should have been played on pre-season form. He's an amazing young man, but he needs the right style of play and the right environment to really thrive. I don't think he'll be cheap, but he'll be worth every penny!"