Following a disastrous campaign which opened the door for significant investment, Manchester United enjoyed a busy summer window, securing the signatures of five new players.
Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, Senne Lammens and Diego Leon all arrived in M16, as Ruben Amorim sought to add fresh blood to his team.
Cunha arrived early in the window and was followed by a protracted chase of Brentford’s star player, Mbuemo, much to the delight of a demanding supporter base.
The Cameroon forward was signed for an initial £65 million from the Bees in mid-July, and our Brazilian was snapped up from Wolves after officials triggered his £62.5 million release clause on June 1.
Both men joined the club on the US tour to partake in pre-season preparations, and they seemed to immediately integrate well with their new teammates.
Fast forward to October, how have the Premier League-proven duo fared under those expectant Old Trafford lights?
Plenty of positives for Cunha and Mbeumo in Manchester
It had long been anticipated that the pair would occupy the twin no. 10 positions that Amorim likes to deploy in his intricate 3-4-2-1 system. Naturally, this came to fruition in the season opener at home to Arsenal.
Sitting in a front three with Mason Mount, they gave the visitors a torrid afternoon, looking very much at home on the Old Trafford stage, despite falling to an unlucky 0-1 defeat.
It was the former Wolverhampton man, in particular, that got fans off their seats, wowing the crowd with his sublime touches and driving runs through the heart of the opposition.
That said, it hasn’t all been plain sailing so far for the new boys.
Mbeumo netted his first goal in the Carabao Cup away to Grimsby Town, but suffered penalty heartbreak that evening, as both players missed in the shoot-out, with United crashing out of the competition in embarrassing fashion.
A mixed bag from our Brazilian, but there are ample signs of his class
It’s fair to say that Cunha has had a varied start to his life in Manchester, having begun the campaign as a standout performer, but has been unfortunate not to have registered a goal.
The former Atletico Madrid attacker picked up a hamstring strain in the win at home to Burnley, causing him to miss three weeks before returning as a substitute against Chelsea.
Restored to the starting XI for the trip to Brentford last Saturday, the 26-year-old cut a frustrated figure, choosing the wrong option at times, and opting to shoot when a pass seemed like a better course of action.
Perhaps he is trying to force the issue as he feels pressured to register his first goal and could be understandably keen to make an impact now that Mbeumo and Sesko have both opened their accounts.
Still, I would expect contributions to come sooner rather than later, as he is, without question, one of the most gifted players in the English top-flight.
It’s essential to remember that Cunha provided 15 goals and six assists for a struggling Wolves side last term, which is a remarkable tally for any attacker.
We are witnessing something of a maverick, and he adds a different dimension to United’s final third through his flair, creative brilliance and direct running, thriving when given freedom to roam.
Notably, he played some of his best football at Molineux in a more left-sided attacking role, and this is where he has predominantly featured under his Portuguese boss thus far.
“I think Cunha is a little bit like that – he’s a guy that is a good guy, but he doesn’t care who you are,” Amorim told TNT Sports. “He can play wherever, and he will go with the ball. This kind of feeling, we need that.”
Once fully bedded in and off the mark in Manchester, then Cunha should become a key component for the three-time European champions.
Mbeumo has shown his quality from the outset
Having chased the African star for what felt like half of the summer, Manchester United finally landed their man on July 21.
Mbeumo scored a whopping 20 league goals for a mid-table Brentford side last season, which was quite a brilliant return for a player who by no means can be considered an out-and-out striker.
Having netted his first goal in that defeat to Grimsby, he followed up with his first league strike just three days later with a crucial contribution in the win over Burnley, before playing a key role in United’s latest victory against Chelsea.
Mbeumo was a bundle of energy that day and posed a constant threat to the Blues’ defence. He provided United with a genuine ‘outball’ and constantly pressed from the front in an impressive overall display.
This is a man who is efficient and effective, and, despite not yet reaching the form that earned him a big-money move to Old Trafford, he appears to be a calm personality both on and off the field and adds a real threat from set-pieces, which is a massive bonus.
Speaking in an interview with Sky, the ‘Indomitable Lions’ winger declared his joy to be part of the club’s newest attacking trio alongside Cunha and Sesko.
“It’s exciting because we get to learn to play with new players, and it’s always challenging, but that’s what we like as footballers,” he declared.
“Of course it will improve, we haven’t played a lot together, so there are certain things that we’re going to improve, and there are different types of players, but it’s good to be with them.”
Touching on United’s disappointing run of form, the 26-year-old insisted that the first-team must be held accountable for their results.
“I think everyone in the team needs to take responsibility,” he continued. “When you play in a club this big, everyone needs to know what to do – as a team, we need to do better.”
With Amorim under consistent pressure, the Old Trafford faithful will hope their talented duo can step up to the plate and repeat some of the form that compelled Ineos to splash a combined £127m to acquire both of their services.
Hopefully, the exciting dyad can finally ignite United’s season and provide a wounded fan base with reason to smile.
What have you made of Manchester United’s new signings so far?
Let us know in the comments or on our social channels. Get in touch with Jerry on Twitter.
Photo by operations@newsimages.co.uk via depositphotos.com
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