The transfer circus is now in full swing, it would appear, with speculation raging over just who will be added to Ruben Amorim’s ranks at Manchester United this summer.
After acquiring Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven in January, it looks as if the Red Devils are set to continue this squad overhaul with the signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers star, Matheus Cunha.
As has been widely reported, United have held positive contract talks with the Brazilian amid the prospect of striking an early deal, with the 25-year-old available for £62.5m amid the presence of a release clause in his existing deal at Molineux.
While previously linked with a move to Nottingham Forest and Arsenal back in January, it looks as if Amorim and co have now won the race for the former Atletico Madrid man, all being well, with attention turning to the impact that he could make at Old Trafford.
Where Cunha will fit into the Man Utd side
With Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee scoring just six Premier League goals between them this season, the addition of a new centre-forward appears to be a real priority this summer, not least with United scoring just 38 top-flight goals collectively to date.
Despite having played through the middle in the past, it would appear that Cunha is not actually being targeted to be the new number nine, amid parallel interest in Ipswich Town talisman, Liam Delap.
In the case of the current Wolves man then, he would instead be needed to strengthen Amorim’s options in one of the new number ten berths, not least with the exiled trio of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Antony all looking set to depart permanently.
Alejandro Garnacho, meanwhile, is yet to truly convince that he can transition from being an out-and-out winger, while Amad Diallo – who has registered 12 goals and assists in 20 games under Amorim – has notably been hampered by injury over the last two seasons.
With Mason Mount also netting just once in total since his arrival in 2023, and with Bruno Fernandes having dropped into a deep-lying role of late, the options in the number ten role are scarce, hence why Cunha could flourish.
Non-penalty goals
0.56
Top 3%
Total shots
3.56
Top 7%
Assists
0.16
Bottom 46%
Shot-creating actions
4.27
Top 20%
Pass completion
71.0%
Bottom 20%
Progressive passes
4.75
Top 22%
Progressive carries
3.79
Top 31%
Successful take-ons
2.20
Top 16%
Tackles
1.36
Bottom 49%
Interceptions
0.64
Top 20%
Having registered 14 goals in the league this season while operating in a similar system under Vitor Pereira, the Brazil international would be a ready-made solution ahead of next term.
That statement signing appears to be needed – although it shouldn’t come at the expense of young Kobbie Mainoo.
Man Utd's "generational talent" must not be sold
Be it the lack of options in attack – as noted above – or his own struggles as part of the midfield, the Amorim regime so far has brought with it a change for Mainoo, with the academy graduate largely lining up as one of the two ten’s of late.
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From making his first Premier League start as a defensive-minded option in front of the back four against Everton in November 2023, the 20-year-old has since even been deployed as a makeshift centre-forward against Crystal Palace and – more recently – Lyon, with a definitive role still yet to be found.
That transition has largely come about due to Amorim’s claims that the midfielder was “struggling a lot defensively” as part of the midfield two, albeit with the Portuguese coach also praising the youngster for his ability in the final third.
Indeed, last week’s thrilling triumph in the Europa League saw Mainoo net in almost trademark fashion with a delightful, curling effort inside the area, having previously scored in similar style against both Wolves and Liverpool last term.
That impact off the bench has highlighted just why the England starlet can thrive in a more advanced berth moving forward, albeit with the addition of a figure like Cunha only set to hamper his hopes of a regular role in the starting lineup.
For all his injury-related woes this term, it’s worth remembering that Mainoo had enjoyed a stunning emergence in 2023/24, resulting in his key role in the Three Lions’ surge to the Euro 2024 final, having started every knockout stage game under Gareth Southgate.
Described as a “generational talent” by Hojlund, it would be a crying shame for the FA Cup final match winner to be nudged toward the exit door so swiftly, with speculation having been rife regarding his future, amid an apparent stall in contract talks.
While there may be a desire to cash in on a player who is valued at around £74m, according to CIES Football Observatory – placing him ahead of the £62.5m-rated Cunha – that soaring valuation also indicates just what a diamond he truly is.
Of course, Amorim’s 3-4-3 system may be better suited to Cunha and the like, yet not being able to find a home for Mainoo in the starting lineup would reflect poorly on the manager.
This is the type of talent that United simply can’t afford to lose.
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