United are planning to make some much-needed changes to the landscape of their squad and it is looking increasingly likely that Matheus Cunha will set the ball rolling by arriving from Wolves. United have agreed to pay his £62.5million release clause and are now locked in talks over how to structure the payments.
The Reds have long since identified the Brazilian as one of their top targets for this summer’s window, and he is expected to slot straight into left-sided No.10 position. He scored 17 goals for Wolves this season and would be a welcome addition to United’s attack.
Alongside Cunha, United want to strengthen their attacking pool by recruiting a striker. Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap had been identified as their primary target but he is now closing in on a move to Chelsea, meaning United will have to look elsewhere for a goalscorer.
At this juncture, United are not understood to have settled on an alternative. Signing a reliable striker has to be United’s top priority this summer, making links with Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres and Napoli ace Victor Osimhen understandable. However, United may find it difficult to recruit the goal-getter they are in need of as a result of failing to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Elsewhere, United are expected to try and recruit a goalkeeper to challenge Andre Onana for the No.1 spot, while the addition of a midfielder is also on their to-do list.
However, much of what United will be able to do on the subject of incomings will rest on outgoings. It is no secret they need to generate funds via player sales this summer, and departures could reach double figures. They have also got to be mindful of the financial rules.
“It’s not going to change so much because we have the financial fair play rules,” Amorim told the media in Malaysia. “We are not allowed to do much in this summer, even with Champions League, so we are prepared for that.”
However, United plan to raise funds by selling attackers Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony. Garnacho has been informed he can leave at the right price and Rashford, Sancho and Antony have been identified as priority sales.
Rashford is available for £40m, Antony will be available for around £32.5m and Chelsea, who signed Sancho on loan last summer, have an obligation to buy him for a fee that could be as high as £25m. However, the Londoners can pay a £5m penalty not to sign him on a permanent basis.
In addition, no other member of the squad is safe from being pointed in the direction of the exit. Bruno Fernandes is currently the subject of interest from Al-Hilal and it remains to be seen if the Saudi Arabia side will table a bid matching the £100m figure that has been touted. The United captain is understood to be considering the move.
