Manchester United are glad to see the back of a disastrous 2024-25 campaign and an important summer transfer window awaits head coach Ruben Amorim, as he endeavours to bring back the glory days to Old Trafford.
It has been reported that the Red Devils' spending power might be heavily restricted as they will only have a budget of around £100m without player sales.
Despite that, Man United are understood to have reached a full verbal agreement to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha and have decided to activate the 26-year-old's £62.5m release clause.
The Red Devils will pay the full fee in three instalments over a two-year period, while Cunha is said to have given the green light to sign a five-year contract at Old Trafford until 2030, with an option until the summer of 2031.
Another attacker who could be heading to the red side of Manchester is ex-Man City striker Liam Delap, as Amorim's side have reportedly agreed the framework of a deal with Ipswich Town to sign the 22-year-old for £30m.
With that in mind, Sports Mole takes a look at how Man United could line up with both Cunha and Delap in Amorim's side next season.
Few have been surprised to see Man United target reinforcements in the final third after they ended the 2024-25 campaign scoring the fifth-fewest goals (44) in the Premier League.
No Man United player reached double figures for goals in the Premier League, including strikers Rasmus Hojlund (four) and Joshua Zirkzee (three) who have failed to reach the heights expected since completing big-money moves to Old Trafford.
It seems likely that Hojlund and Zirkzee will slip down the pecking order if a striker such as Delap, who scored a team-high 12 PL goals for Ipswich in his debut campaign at the club, makes the move to Man United this summer.
Amorim's 3-4-2-1 formation would allow two advanced midfielders or attackers to provide support for Delap in the final third, and one of those is expected to be Cunha, who thrived operating in a central role in behind Jorgen Strand Larsen at Wolves in 2024-25.
Cunha, who recorded 15 goals and six assists in 36 Premier League games in 2024-25, is also capable of leading the line, but he would be expected to predominantly roam in and around deeper central positions, providing a link between the midfield and wing-backs with the central striker.
Amid uncertainty over the future of Alejandro Garnacho, either Amad Diallo or Mason Mount could play alongside Cunha in a central-attacking role behind Delap. Captain Bruno Fernandes is another who could operate further forward, but he is also an option to play regularly in the heart of Amorim's midfield.
Fernandes, arguably the first name on the teamsheet at Man United, could link arms with either Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte or Kobbie Mainoo in centre-midfield, while Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui - and possibly Diallo - battle for starts at right wing-back.
January signing Patrick Dorgu appears to be Amorim's first-choice left wing-back, with Luke Shaw having been preferred as a left-sided centre-back towards the latter stages of 2024-25.
Defensive additions could be on the cards at Man United this summer, but as things stand, Amorim would likely turn to Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez to start in a three-man backline when everyone is fit - Matthijs de Ligt is another option - while Andre Onana should remain as the No.1 goalkeeper unless a transfer away from the club materialises.
Oliver Thomas
