Online Reporter
IT’S been a busy few days at Manchester United.
From agreeing to sign Matheus Cunha, speaking with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, finding out Bruno Fernandes won’t be joining Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal and that Jadon Sancho will return from Chelsea, along with a £5m payment, it has been a whirlwind return from their troubled post-season tour of Asia.
So, where are they now and what is their transfer strategy moving forward?
Fernandes took a bit of time mulling over the Al Hilal offer after United head coach Ruben Amorim said in Hong Kong last Friday he thought his captain would stay at the club.
The 30-year-old wanted to talk it through with his family as, after all, the sums being offered were truly staggering and could not just be dismissed out of hand.
At this point last week, many at United thought Fernandes would go. Now we know he won’t.
Lost amid his assertions about Fernandes, Amorim said something else that resonated.
Knowing nailing him down on individuals and specifics would be impossible, we asked Amorim if he knew what he wanted his squad to look like when pre-season training began at the start of July.
“Yes,” he said. “I have a clear idea of what we want.
“As you know, we are a bit limited and can’t do it all in one summer. But there is a clear picture for what we want.”
The initial approach — and as a guide it still holds — was to go for younger, hungry players, who can improve.
That is the basis on which 20-year-old Denmark international Patrick Dorgu arrived in a £25m deal from Serie A outfit Lecce in February to address the problematic left wing-back berth. It was the same with 18-year-old Arsenal central defender Ayden Heaven.
Both players made promising contributions, albeit in a struggling team.
However, some issues are so urgently in need of addressing, no time for development is available.
And, what Amorim wanted, as an absolute priority, was to reinforce his attack.
Time and again towards the end of the Premier League season, the United boss had lamented his side’s ability to make the most of the chances they were creating. Between them, Wolves’ Cunha and Mbeumo scored 35 league goals last season. — BBC Sport.
