As Manchester United’s players regroup at Carrington and preparations for the 2025/26 Premier League season get underway, the club’s transfer momentum appears to have slowed—particularly in their pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo. With just over five weeks until their opening fixture against Arsenal at Old Trafford, new head coach Ruben Amorim is racing against time to reshape the squad.
So far, United have made just one major signing: Matheus Cunha, who arrived from Wolves in a deal worth £62.5 million. His addition was seen as a bold move to signal intent, but since then, further acquisitions have stalled. The club’s most high-profile target, Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford, remains out of reach despite two substantial bids—first around £55 million, then a follow-up exceeding £60 million. However, Brentford have increased their asking price, and United have yet to respond with a third offer. The 25-year-old winger is believed to be keen on a move to Old Trafford, with personal terms already agreed, but an agreement between the clubs remains elusive.
Complicating United’s transfer ambitions is the lack of player sales. Key names like Casemiro, Jadon Sancho, and Mason Greenwood are available for transfer, yet none have been offloaded. Without these sales, United face challenges under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, limiting their ability to fund further signings. This financial bottleneck has also slowed progress on other targets, including Joao Neves, Matthijs de Ligt, and Joshua Zirkzee.
The pressure is mounting as United’s pre-season campaign is about to begin. The team faces Leeds in Stockholm on July 15 before heading to the U.S. for the Premier League Summer Series, starting against West Ham on July 27. Amorim is eager to have key signings in place ahead of this tour, especially given the tactical complexity he aims to implement. But with only Cunha and young talent Diego Leon joining the pre-season squad, there is a growing concern that the club’s summer rebuild is falling behind.
Frustration is boiling over among the fanbase, especially considering Mbeumo’s impressive form last season, when he netted 20 Premier League goals—more than any current United attacker. Many supporters fear the team is lagging while rivals like Arsenal and Chelsea strengthen their squads rapidly.
As things stand, United face three potential paths: submit a third offer for Mbeumo, turn attention to alternative options such as Michael Olise, Desire Doue, or Antoine Semenyo, or shift focus to reinforcing other areas like central midfield or attack. However, time is running out, and unless United manage to offload players and secure another major signing soon, they risk heading into the new season underprepared once again.
