Manchester United still want to sign Bryan Mbeumo this summerplaceholder image
Manchester United still want to sign Bryan Mbeumo this summer | Getty Images
Man Utd want to add to their squad as soon as possible, with just over a month until the new Premier League season.
Manchester United are slowly running out of time if they wish to have their new signings in place for the start of the new Premier League season. A month today, they will have already played their final summer friendly fixture and will be gearing up for the visit of Arsenal on the opening weekend of the new league campaign.
It doesn't get any easier, with an away trip to face Fulham and a home match against Burnley before they face Chelsea and Man City after the September international break. That's three of last season's top four in the first five matches, and a huge pressure to hit the ground running.
It is for those reasons Ruben Amorim wanted new signings in place as soon as possible, so that they would be integrated into the first-team squad and be aware of their tactical demands right from the first whistle. The official transfer deadline might be on 1 September, but for United, it might as well be the opening weekend of the season.
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Bryan Mbeumo deal dragging on
Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon were both introduced to their new Manchester United teammates at the start of the week, but the initial hope was for Bryan Mbeumo to have joined them at Carrington by now. The 25-year-old remains United's priority for the remainder of the summer window, with Ruben Amorim desperate to have him in place before they embark on their pre-season tour of the United States.
It is understood Mbeumo is growing frustrated over the lack of movement regarding a deal, but United remain confident they will be able to reach a compromise with Brentford to sign him. The forward is due back in pre-season training next week, and the London club is adamant they will not lower their valuation for a player who netted 20 goals last season and is effectively contracted to them for another two full seasons due to a clause in his current contract.
The first few weeks of pre-season are about getting back up to speed and easing back into training rhythm, while there are expected to be wholesale changes for the first summer friendly against Leeds next week. After that, things will be turned up a notch, with the forthcoming tour of the United States the time to put theory into practice and work on their tactical approach. United could really do with having Mbeumo signed by then.
United's home friendly against Fiorentina will effectively be a dress rehearsal for the Arsenal match, and by then, Amorim would like to have a clear idea of his preferred line up for the first few weeks of the new season. It has been a common issue in recent years that United have not had all of their business done by the start of the campaign, and have often completed major deals after the first matches, something they might not be able to afford this season.
It is important to reiterate Amorim retains the full backing of the board, but if they don't enjoy a successful start to the season and don't show signs of improvement from last year, then a precedent has already been set to act swiftly and make changes while there is still time to rectify them. Whether that is right or not is almost irrelevant.
Amorim will be the one who pays the price if standards are not met, and that is why United must pay the price to get him the players he wants now.
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