(Credit:Imago)

Charlie Grace

Tue 19 August 2025 15:39, UK

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has seen over £200million-worth of talent come through the doors at Carrington this summer but many feel more business needs to be done before the transfer window slams shut.

The Portuguese head coach oversaw his first summer at the helm after a disastrous 2024-25 season saw the Red Devils finish 15th in the Premier League.

Amorim oversaw a transition to his preferred 3-4-2-1 style, a system that highlighted some major flaws in United’s squad building over the past decade.

The January transfer window saw Patrick Dorgu join the club from Serie A side Lecce but Amorim had to wait until the summer window to see anymore additions to a squad that never truly fit his style.

Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko headlined the club’s marquee forward line overhaul, with Cunha and Mbeumo impressing on their Manchester United debuts in the 1-0 loss to Arsenal on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.

The match brought a lot of answers for Amorim’s new squad but also delivered some of the same old questions, like the conundrum in goal, as Altay Bayindir’s mistake led to Arsenal taking the lead.

But one other position remains a must-buy for Man United if they’re to truly unlock the potential of Amorim’s system.

Glaring hole needs attention before any goalkeeper moves are looked at

Andre Onana’s performances have been subject to criticism during his two seasons at Old Trafford, and the Cameroon international is yet to feature this season as he enters his third year with the club.

While the goalkeeper situation could be looked at, the hole in the centre of midfield seems like a more glaring need and an area where further invest would reap a more substantial reward as the club battles with restricted finances.

It has been widely reported that Man United admire Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, who would bring the ball-carrying, hard-tackling, non-stop engine that Amorim’s system demands of his central midfielders, but a move hasn’t materialised this summer.

While United may look to go back for Baleba in 12 months time, it doesn’t mean they can’t look for alternatives that can either bridge the gap or act as an eventual partner for Baleba.

Reports have linked the Red Devils to a move for Sevilla’s holding midfielder Lucien Agoume, who would add a robust, front-footed defensive quality to United’s midfield, while also possessing promising passing abilities.

Meanwhile, the club are also inevitably linked to Amorim’s former midfield metronome, Morten Hjulmand, who could reunite with his former Sporting boss and play a role he’s familiar with in this system, while Atalanta’s evergreen Ederson has also been reported as an option.

Athleticism and ball progression crucial for new additions

When Amorim first arrived and switched to his preferred formation the biggest flaw that was exposed in his squad was the abject physical and athletic qualities that Erik Ten Hag left behind at Old Trafford.

Casemiro isn’t the all-action defensive midfielder he was in his prime, Kobbie Mainoo still needs to develop and Manuel Ugarte lacks the technical qualities that are important in a midfield pairing.

In an attempt to increase the ball progression qualities of United’s midfield, Amorim has opted to drop Bruno Fernandes deeper into the midfield two, and Mason Mount’s performance against Arsenal will give Amorim encouragement that he can use the 26-year-old in that area of the pitch too.

Yet, defensively the midfield lacks profile who can cover space and tackle hard, and if United could secure a player like that, it would unlock a new dynamic for a team who currently seem tentative to push bodies forwards with the fear of being caught in defensive transitions playing on their minds.

Perhaps player sales need to happen first to facilitate a move, but should Amorim get his man, we could see a new evolution in the way this United side play, adding a new robustness and energy to a squad that’s still light in midfield areas.