Matheus Cunha isn't a natural striker. (Image: Getty)
Manchester United started their mammoth summer rebuild by completing the £62.5million signing of Matheus Cunha on Thursday. Ruben Amorim is significantly upgrading his attack with the 26-year-old's arrival, and Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo should have the same impact if he follows suit.
However, neither player will address arguably the biggest problem Amorim inherited when he landed at Old Trafford last November. United are in desperate need of a focal point at the spearhead of the team. Rasmus Hojlund is not at the level required, Chido Obi is in the infancy of his senior career, and Joshua Zirkzee has never been a prolific goalscorer.
Amorim's reported desire to sign a new striker after Cunha and Mbeumo comes as no surprise, although he needs player sales to generate funds.
Should the latter join the Brazilian through the arrivals suite, United are adding 49 Premier League goal contributions last season.
Cunha and Mbeumo plundered a combined 35 goals in the competition, just nine fewer than United's measly overall tally.
Yet, they are likely being signed to operate as the left and right-sided attacking midfielder-winger hybrids in Amorim's 3-4-3 system.
Hojlund scored just four Premier League goals last term. It would be bemusing if he starts the 2025/26 season leading the line as the first-choice striker.
Ruben Amorim needs to sign a striker. (Image: Getty)
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Cunha's versatility adds to his appeal, as does Mbeumo. However, the former Atletico Madrid maverick has previously indicated that he prefers to operate slightly further back.
"This [his impressive dribbling stats] is crazy for me. I never thought I could dribble like this," Cunha explained as he reflected on his role at Wolves in a 2024 interview.
"They put me in this position, and I love it, to play between 10 and nine, behind the forward. I touch the ball more and have more guys to pass to."
Mbeumo has joined him in previously suggesting that his favoured role is on the wing, hammering home that there is a problem position Amorim has yet to fix.
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Splashing over £100m on two genuinely top-class Premier League forwards is a considerable step in the right direction in terms of United's recruitment.
But the Red Devils must now ensure that all three of their front line is capable of breaching 15 league goals next season rather than two.
As part of the Cunha announcement, United director of football Jason Wilcox said: "Bringing in Matheus was one of our main priorities for this summer."
Supporters wait with bated breath to learn whether another of the club's "priorities" is a striker. Or will it be another season of toothless mediocrity?
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