Manchester United are desperate to restore themselves as a European superpower next season. Too long has it been since the Red Devils stood atop the Premier League pile and were feared across the continent.
But despite the woes of the 2024/25 campaign, Ruben Amorim is determined to piece together a team capable of challenging at the highest level.
Despite the slow start, this can be found through the £62.5m signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha.
Cunha isn’t quite a focal frontman; the Brazil forward is mobile and destructive and will enhance every facet of Man United’s attacking play.
However, the search for forwards doesn’t stop there.
The latest on Man Utd's search for forwards
Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo remains INEOS’s focus in the summer transfer window, but it’s been revealed that Rasmus Hojlund might not be quite so close to leaving as had previously been expected.
If Hojlund is to stay put, United’s need for an out-and-out frontman will be lessened. But more depth is needed all the same, and could arrive in the form of a Premier League star desperate for a resurgence to match.
Well, according to Spanish reports, United have settled their focus on Chelsea outcast Christopher Nkunku, having entered negotiations with the Blues for the transfer of the versatile forward, who has been valued at £35m.
With Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony all touted for exits in the coming weeks, this might be a shrewd signing for a player who hasn’t enjoyed their finest form at Stamford Bridge but is undoubtedly talented enough to succeed under Amorim’s wing.
Why Man Utd want Christopher Nkunku
Nkunku’s stint at Chelsea has not gone to plan. Having signed for the Blues from RB Leipzig for £52m in June 2023, the Les Bleus star has only started 11 matches in the Premier League, with injuries and issues finding fluency hampering him.
Given that he would be arriving from a Premier League rival and, indeed, considering the type of player he is, Nkunku might even prove to be Amorim’s next version of Cunha, only a month after reeling the Wolves sensation over to Old Trafford.
Journalist Zach Lowy had remarked that the Frenchman was “unstoppable” during his time with RB Leipzig, and while his time at Stamford Bridge has left plenty to be desired, we can see from the player’s skill set his underlying dynamic ability, which remains intact.
Goals
0.29
0.52
Assists
0.20
0.21
Touches
43.78
54.10
Pass completion
89.5%
71.6%
Progressive passes
2.44
4.99
Shot-creating actions
3.32
4.57
Progressive carries
1.66
3.88
Successful take-ons
0.98
2.11
Ball recoveries
2.83
4.33
Tackles + interceptions
1.86
1.91
While Cunha clearly outstrips Nkunku, there’s enough on show through the data to illustrate his roundedness. All that’s still required is a return to the goalscoring form that saw 58 goals and 29 assists harvested across his final two campaigns with Leipzig.
He was, and still could be, one of the best in the Premier League, endowed with the wide scope Cunha so remarkably possesses.
Indeed, just take a look at Nkunku’s Bundesliga highlight reel to understand the level of a forward who may yet realise his potential in the Premier League.
Cunha has been singled out for his “absolutely sensational” intelligence and technical quality by pundit Micah Richards in the past, and while his arrival will elevate Amorim’s outfit, adding some further depth and electricity by the way of Nkunku could freshen up the ranks just enough to finally turn the page.
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