Matheus Cunha in, Bruno Fernandes staying, Bryan Mbeumo potentially on the way; if the Manchester United fans could design their dream start to the summer transfer window, it would probably look a lot like this.
Less than 72 hours into the window, and already excitement is building ahead of what should be a much-more enjoyable campaign in 2025/26. Well, it could hardly be much worse.
Captain marvel Bruno Fernandes has rejected Al-Hilal’s offer in favour of staying put at Manchester United. Get out the hammer, get out the chisel, and get that statue built.
And, just a day after Matheus Cunha was confirmed to the Red Devils faithful, reports emerged that another of the finest forward players in the Premier League could also be on his way to Old Trafford.
Bryan Mbeumo has chosen Man United ahead of Newcastle, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. Three clubs bound for the Champions League.
Whoever said United have lost their pull?
Gary Neville delighted as Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo chooses Manchester United
If a lack of goals was the biggest problem holding Ruben Amorim’s team back last term, then it’s hard to imagine two finer additions for those roving number ten roles.
Between them, Cunha and Mbeumo scored 35 times in the Premier League in 2024/25. Man United, as a whole, managed only 44.
United legend Gary Neville, speaking to Sky Sports, believes that the productivity both players will provide in the final third only scratches the surface when discussing the qualities they bring to that famous red jersey.
“[Man United] need players who are going to come in and hit the ground running. United has become a very difficult place for new signings to operate in the last ten years,” Neville begins.
“Cunha and Mbeumo have obviously got Premier League experience. They’ve got plenty of games under their belt. [English football] is not new to them and actually they are the right type.
“When I watch Manchester United wide players, they have to be able to get from box-to-box quickly. They have to be able to run, to travel with and without the ball. Mbeumo and, to be fair Cunha, can do that.
“They can both run forward with real intent and purpose. A couple of two or three players who are going to leave, they are more ‘jinkers’. Players who, to be fair, play in smaller spaces. For anybody who has played at Old Trafford, although the size of the pitch may in terms of metrics not be bigger, it just seems like a big pitch to play on.
“The width is important.”
Neville says Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha add running power to United
Football correspondent Graeme Bailey, speaking exclusively to United in Focus, reports that Brentford are likely to demand a fee for Bryan Mbeumo similar to the one Man United paid for Brazil international Cunha.
Yet, if the free-scoring Frenchman can break the 20-goal barrier with the Red Devils like he did for Brentford in the season just gone, a potential £60 million outlay will find itself justified pretty quickly.
“I know Ruben Amorim has this system when he plays those two players behind the striker,” Neville adds, two of the most effective and most athletic forwards around bringing much-needed running power to an often one-paced team.
“If those two players are Mbeumo and Cunha, at least Manchester United will be able to travel from deep positions to attacking positions.
“They can both run, they’ve both got sort of a direct way of playing. And at Manchester United, it’s important they have that.
“We know the likes of [Jadon] Sancho, [Marcus] Rashford, Antony, and probably [Alejandro] Garnacho are going to leave, so they definitely need players in those positions.”
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