Manchester United are in the market for a new striker this summer as Ruben Amorim seeks more goals in the 2025-26 campaign.
Manchester United have already snapped up Matheus Cunha, but the attacking additions will not end with the Brazilian’s arrival.
United are still chasing Bryan Mbeumo and will hope to find an agreement with Brentford in the near future.
A striker will be the next priority, though United have also missed out on Liam Delap to Chelsea.
United continue to be linked with Viktor Gyokeres, though the Sporting striker’s future has become something of a soap opera.
Hugo Ekitike is also on United’s radar, but Ruben Amorim has now been urged to make a surprise move.
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Ruben Amorim told to sign Everton’s Beto for Manchester United
Amorim’s preference may be to sign Gyokeres, having enjoyed a brilliant spell together at Sporting.
One name United fans won’t have considered is Everton forward Beto.
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The Guinea-Bissau international joined Everton for £30million from Udinese in 2023, as noted by BBC Sport, but scored only three goals in his first Premier League season.
Beto improved under David Moyes and finished the season with eight Premier League goals to his name – including one against United.
Few United supporters would be urging a move for Beto, but the president of Uniao Tires – Beto’s first club – has urged Amorim to make a move.
Fernando Lopes has told The Sun that he thinks Beto would be a better fit than Gyokeres, praising him as a ‘headache’ for defenders.
Lopes noted Beto’s pace and work rate, believing that he can be the ‘ace’ up Amorim’s sleeve while backing him to score 20 goals in an attacking team.
Lopes accepts that some will believe that he is just backing Beto because of his history at Uniao Tires, but he really feels the Everton man would be United’s ‘most effective’ striking target.
“Everyone thought Amorim would sign Gyokeres as he had him at Sporting, but the Premier League is completely different to Portugal,” said Lopes. “Teams are more physical and compact at the back, it is quicker and more competitive. Gyokeres would struggle to play as a lone No 9 waiting for service.
“Beto’s a more physical player, who fights with defenders and doesn’t lose duels. He is a real headache for opponents — if he gets the service. In their golden era, United always scored a lot of goals from set-pieces but haven’t had a proper striker for many seasons. Nowadays, teams have small, quick strikers or a false forward because there is an obsession for possession of the ball.
“Beto represents the typical old style, because of his physique, power and work-rate — plus he is very fast. When Moyes went to Everton he showed what a handful he is for defenders to stop. He’d be like Amorim’s ace up his sleeve in a game of poker.
“One of Beto’s attributes is the fighting spirit first injected at Tires. He has had the attitude of never giving up since he was a boy. I’d love to see him in a more attacking team because if he has the service, he will definitely score around 20.
“His physicality would be a tremendous advantage for United, and he’s so quick that you have to foul him to stop him. I know some will say my head is ruling my heart, but for me, he is the most effective choice for United — and I know the fans would love him,” he added.
United unlikely to target Beto
United will be looking far and wide for a new striker this summer, but a move for Beto seems pretty unlikely.
The Portugal-born forward enjoyed a decent run under Moyes, but was still somewhat erratic with his finishing.
Beto is 28 in January, and if United are going to invest in a striker at that age, a more proven goalscoring record would be required.
Amorim will be well aware of Beto; the striker played twice against Amorim’s Sporting side while playing for Portimonense in the 2020-21 season.
Beto appears to be improving under Moyes, but is still short of the kind of striker United need to really improve under Amorim.