Manchester United have had an exciting start to their summer transfer window after a disappointing season.
The Red Devils have announced that they have agreed a deal for the impressive attacker Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
To continue trying to remedy the lack of goals in the team, news broke yesterday that Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo has given priority to a move to Old Trafford instead of other Premier League sides.
The Red Devils are far from done in the transfer market as they have also been linked with signing a number nine, midfielder and goalkeeper before the window shuts.
Nonetheless, here is how United could line up next season with only the very likely additions of Cunha and Mbeumo.
Andre Onana’s future is very much up in the air at the moment but until United sign another keeper, he is clearly the number one option.
Patrick Dorgu has split opinion since his January move from Lecce. He will hope that with a full pre-season and having had time to adapt to English football, he can show the clear potential he has even more consistently in a red shirt.
Ayden Heaven has only played a handful of games for United but the other January signing has been incredibly impressive every time he has taken the pitch. Additionally, his left footedness and ability on the ball make him an ideal replacement for the injured Lisandro Martinez.
Matthijs de Ligt impressed in his debut season in England in spite of a couple of late injuries marring the end of his year. The Dutchman would add much needed experience and aerial prowess in the middle of the defence.
Leny Yoro has been a revelation since joining from LOSC Lille last summer and has turned himself into one of the first names on the team sheets in spite of his tender age of 19.
The signings of Cunha and Mbeumo mean that Amad is likely to make the right wing back slot his own next season. He was one of the breakout stars of the season and United rely heavily upon his creativity and positivity in wide areas when attacking.
The middle of the park is a little less clear but if Bruno Fernandes stays at the club, his future looks more certain as a number eight with the arrivals of two number tens.
The captain played numerous games in this position last season and could well be partnered with Manuel Ugarte. The Uruguayan went off the boil in the final weeks of the season and did not even see a minute in the Europa League final.
Nonetheless, his energy and drive will be necessary in the team unless Ruben Amorim’s side can bring in a better player on the ball between now and the end of the window.
Cunha will clearly be the left ten in Amorim’s system having operated in a 3-4-3 for Wolves and will fit like a glove.
The Brazilian will inject creativity, goal scoring threat and dynamism into United’s formation and is an incredibly exciting addition to the first eleven.
Mbeumo will take up the starting spot as the right sided ten. The Cameroon international’s left footedness allows him to provide perfect balance with Cunha and his potential with working in tandem with Amad down the right hand side is scary for opposition defences.
The Brentford attacker already has a collection of outstanding strikes in the Premier League and United fans will be desperate to see what he can do at Old Trafford.
Finally, United are desperate to bring in a number nine and will likely make a move once they can generate funds through a sale of Alejandro Garnacho, Antony or Marcus Rashford.
Nonetheless, Joshua Zirkzee should start as a striker until the club can bring in a more lethal option.
The Dutchman has not shown that he is prolific but he is only 24 years old.
What’s more, he is a very skilful footballer with high in-game intelligence. With respect to Rasmus Hojlund and Garnacho, Cunha and Mbeumo are huge upgrades and Zirkzee could really thrive working alongside other technical operators, making for a very fluid, fascinating top three.
Here, then, is the line-up:
Featured Image Alex Davidson via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
