By Martin Graham
Manchester United have been busy since returning from their post-season tour of Asia. After securing a deal for Wolves forward Matheus Cunha, exploring interest in Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, confirming Bruno Fernandes will remain at the club despite strong interest from Al Hilal, and arranging Jadon Sancho’s return from Chelsea with a £5 million payment, the club is making significant moves.
Ruben Amorim, United’s manager, made it clear during the Hong Kong leg of their tour that he has a defined plan for what he wants the team to look like when training resumes in early July. While he admitted not everything could be achieved in one transfer window due to limitations, he stressed that the structure is in place.
The club continues to pursue young, motivated players with room to develop. That strategy was evident with the winter signings of Patrick Dorgu from Lecce and Ayden Heaven from Arsenal. Both players showed signs of promise despite the club’s struggles on the pitch.
Still, not all areas can afford the luxury of patience. Improving the attack has become a top priority, particularly after the team’s struggles to convert chances during the latter part of the Premier League campaign.
Last season, Cunha and Mbeumo combined for 35 top-flight goals, significantly more than United’s previous young signings, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, managed before they arrived. The focus on players with Premier League experience suggests a desire to lower the risk that comes with recruiting from outside England.
While United had previously signed Mason Mount from Chelsea, the latest interest in Cunha and Mbeumo points to a growing awareness of the benefits that come from targeting players already adapted to the league. Former captain Gary Neville noted that the Premier League-tested duo could immediately fit into United’s demanding wide roles, offering energy, pace, and determination – qualities often missing from some of the current options.
Amorim’s system could see either of the two play in attacking midfield roles behind a central forward or one of them leading the line. Flexibility remains, and the manager has yet to reveal how he plans to deploy his new attacking recruits should both arrive.
With no European competition next season, Amorim has indicated a willingness to work with fewer players. However, that also means trimming the squad, particularly given the financial constraints now in place. The Portuguese coach has made it clear some departures are necessary.
Three categories of players have emerged. First, there are those the manager does not want to keep, such as Sancho, Antony, Rashford, and Garnacho. Next are players whose time at the club has not met expectations – Hojlund, Zirkzee, and Casemiro fall into this group. Finally, there is a large section of the squad who could stay but may be sold for the right price.
One major complication is wages. Sancho’s failed move to Chelsea revealed the difficulty in shifting players on high salaries. Amorim may want certain individuals to move on, but doing so could require compromises, such as subsidizing wages for players joining domestic rivals – something part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is determined to avoid.
As the summer unfolds, it will be up to technical director Jason Wilcox and negotiator Matt Hargreaves to manage the ins and outs effectively. How successful they are in those efforts will go a long way in defining Amorim’s first full season at the helm.
