Manchester United are planning to strengthen their attacking department by completing a double Premier League swoop in the summer.
It’s not a secret that Manchester United have struggled in front of goal this season.
Rasmus Hojlund has endured a difficult season, scoring just eight goals this season, which is one better than Joshua Zirkzee, whose season ended prematurely due to a hamstring injury.
That means Ruben Amorim has just one striker to select from for the remainder of the 2024/25 season, although the United head coach has shown his flexibility by playing Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire in forward positions to much success in the memorable 5-4 win over Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals.
Ineos are planning a squad clear-out in the summer, with four United first-team members set to depart when their contracts expire this summer, but they will also hope to generate funds from player sales.
Man Utd have plan to fund Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap deals
Manchester United will aim to get their business done early this summer.
That way, Amorim gets to work his players during the pre-season tour, giving them a chance to gel with their new teammates ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Amorim must also decide which players he wants to make way for recruits.
According to the Manchester Evening News, United are planning for three attacking sales to fund their pursuits for Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap.
United have scored just 38 goals in 33 Premier League games this season, which may explain why they are looking at forward players with experience in the English top-flight.
This season in the Premier League, Cunha has scored 14 goals and Delap has found the back of the net on 12 different occasions.
While Cunha has a release clause of £62.5m, which could be paid in instalments, Ipswich Town’s imminent relegation will trigger a £30m buyout clause in Delap’s contract.
United chief executive Omar Berrada will be tasked with ensuring the club operates shrewdly in the transfer market.
Three Man Utd attackers face the axe
The potential arrivals of Cunha and Delap will inevitably lead to the departures of others.
If United pay for the release clauses for the Premier League duo, it’s going to set the club back £92.5m, which gives Berrada an idea of what sort of money needs to be made by player sales.
The Manchester Evening News adds that Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony are examples of three attacking players who could make way to fund deals for Cunha and Delap.
Aston Villa have an option to sign Rashford for £40m when his loan deal expires, while Chelsea are obliged to buy Sancho for between £20m-25m.
Meanwhile, Antony has become one of the star players in La Liga since joining Real Betis, but the Reds are still expecting to make a loss on the Brazilian after paying an initial £81.3m for his signature in 2022.
United could look to sell other attacking players too, with Alejandro Garnacho linked with a move to Napoli back in January, and Rasmus Hojlund struggling to score goals consistently over the past two seasons.
Some claims suggest Cunha could replace Garnacho in one of the No.10 roles at United, which could see the Argentina international sold this summer.
This means United have back-up options to sell if they fail to get Rashford off the wage books.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
