Man United predicted XI for new season: Gyokeres and Mbeumo in, Fernandes and Hojlund sold
Manchester United are set for a huge summer of change and will have a new-look starting lineup for the first game of the 2025/26 campaign.
The Red Devils fell to their worst-ever Premier League finish last season, sitting in 15th with just 42 points after all 38 games had been played.
To make matters worse, United were beaten by Tottenham in the Europa League final, so they ended the campaign without any major silverware to their name.
Despite a dismal first seven months in the job, Ruben Amorim is expected to remain in charge at Old Trafford, and will be heavily backed this summer.
All change in Man United’s attack
The summer business has already begun at Old Trafford, with Man United confirming the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves, after triggering the Brazilian’s £62.5million release clause.
The 25-year-old will go straight into the starting XI, slotting in on the left side of the front three, replacing Alejandro Garnacho who is set to leave United.
At centre forward, Rasmus Hojlund is a target for Napoli, after struggling to impress for the Red Devils, scoring just four Premier League goals this season.
The ideal replacement for the Dane would be Viktor Gyokeres, who both Man United and Arsenal are after, but the Manchester club may have the edge due to the fact that the striker played under Amorim at Sporting.
To complete the forward line, United want to secure the signing of Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, who hit 20 Premier League goals in the 2024/25 campaign.
It is likely that the defence and wing-backs will remain fairly similar over the summer, with Amad Diallo set to start on the right-hand side after an impressive run of form over recent months.
However, it could be all change in the middle, as Bruno Fernandes is considering his Man United future, and may be off to Saudi Arabia.
If his captain does depart, Amorim will be forced to utilise what he already has in the centre of the park, with Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo the most likely pairing.
Amorim has one final chance
This summer’s transfer window is Amorim’s final chance to salvage his Man United job, and begin a rebuild at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese manager has been given a lifeline after a horrific first season in charge, but if the next campaign begins in the same way, he will be shown the door very swiftly.
Amorim had the January transfer window to make signings, but it is notoriously difficult to bring in players in the middle of a season, and this summer should provide a better opportunity for the 39-year-old.
However, the pressure is well and truly on, and the Red Devils must get every single signing correct if they want to reverse their worrying slide down the Premier League table.