The transfer window at Manchester United has come to a screeching halt after Matheus Cunha’s move, and some of it is outside the club’s control.
Matheus Cunha was a straightforward move due to his release clause, but that still doesn’t excuse Man Utd spending more than a month negotiating for Bryan Mbeumo.
In that time, they’ve already lost out on key targets Liam Delap and Viktor Gyokeres, and more fringe targets like Ardon Jashari.
Now, a 19-goal Man Utd target has also made a transfer decision. Only this time, it could have a double-impact for the club.
German forward #29 Jonathan Burkardt (C) celebrates scoring the 1-1 goal with his teammates during the German first division Bundesliga football match between 1 FSV Mainz 05 and Eintracht Frankfurt in Mainz, western Germany on May 4, 2025
Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images
Jonathan Burkardt makes transfer decision
Man Utd’s striker search might be floundering for now, but coming into the window, they clearly had a long list of options.
It started with Liam Delap, who was ruled out quickly when he moved to Chelsea, and since then, Viktor Gyokeres is close to a move to Arsenal.
Jonathan Burkardt was among the names linked as United were impressed by his breakout season for Mainz, where he scored 19 league goals in 28 games.
However, he was clearly lower down in the pecking order on United’s list, but that has consequences.
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While United were getting snubbed by Gyokeres and Delap, and dragging negotiations for Bryan Mbeumo, Burkardt has made his move.
Eintracht Frankfurt have confirmed that Burkardt has joined the club on a five-year deal, ending all speculation over his future early in the window.
The ease with which this deal was completed points out that United could have done it too had they prioritised him. Now, they are left in a position where their priorities have snubbed them, and their backups have moved elsewhere.
Double-impact for Man Utd
While missing out on another target isn’t a good look for United, this one affects the club in more ways than one, and the second impact is positive.
Now that Frankfurt have signed Burkardt, it could very well be a hint to the clubs interested in Hugo Ekitike that the club are open for business.
Ekitike’s asking price ended United’s interest in him earlier, and even though reports suggested Frankfurt would be open to selling for less, it was still too high.
By signing Burkardt, they have their undisputed first-choice in the market, which could make them more malleable to selling Ekitike.
It shouldn’t be mistaken for the notion that Ekitike will suddenly become a realistic target, but in a window that has snowballed into a disaster so far, it’s a small positive.