Matheus Cunha celebrates after scoring for Wolves.
Matheus Cunha is set to become a Manchester United player.
For the first time since the 2-0 defeat to West Ham United on May 11, Kobbie Mainoo was named in Ruben Amorim's starting XI for the opening game of Manchester United's post-season tour on Wednesday.
Beaten 1-0 by the ASEAN All-Stars XI in Kuala Lumpur, Mainoo started as the left-sided No.10, joining forces with Jack Moorhouse in the roles reserved for the two playmakers.
When Mainoo started against the Hammers at Old Trafford earlier this month, he was also deployed as a No.10, suggesting that is where head coach Amorim believes he can be the most effective.
The England international has been in out of the team this calendar year, struggling to nail down a starting berth, with his starting position often rotating between the No.8 position and the No.10 position.
Mainoo is a forward-thinking, progressive midfielder who likes to get on the ball and advance the play. When Amorim was appointment last November, many believed the United academy graduate would form half of the Portuguese's first-choice midfield pairing alongside Manuel Ugarte.
Instead, though injuries have not helped him this season, he has struggled to nail down a place in the team. He was restricted to just one minute of action in the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and was left on the bench from the start of the season finale against Aston Villa four days later.
United are open to offers for all their players this summer, meaning even Mainoo, who many believe Amorim should be attempting to build his team around, could be sold.
United are understood to be making progress on a deal to bring Matheus Cunha to Old Trafford for a fee of £62.5million. United identified the Wolves ace as a top target to strengthen their attacking options several months ago and he is a tailor-made fit for Amorim's 3-4-2-1 system.
A specialist No.10, the Brazilian is set to be added to Amorim's squad with the task of being a regular starter. It is widely believed he will occupy the left-sided No.10 position.
Matheus Cunha is expected to be Manchester United's first summer signing. (Image: David Rogers/Getty Images.)
Amid that expectation, Bruno Fernandes, despite not being assured of his Old Trafford future, could find himself pulling the strings from midfield next season. He has proven on countless occasions that he is equally capable of operating as a No.8, dictating proceedings from a more reserved role.
Should Cunha start as the left-sided No.10 and Fernandes drops into midfield, it would be logical for Amorim to partner the latter with a defensive specialist in the engine room. Mainoo, as already mentioned, is a forward-thinking midfielder, meaning he is not the answer.
Partnering him with Fernandes in the centre of midfield would leave United too vulnerable to attacks. They must have a defensive shield to compliment Fernandes' desire to get forward.
Amorim has shown in recent weeks he is a huge fan of Mason Mount, with his place in the starting line-up in San Mames last week arguably the team news headline. The midfielder will be hoping he can kick on next season after another difficult season with injuries.
Amad is another player who will be pushing to start as one of the two No.10s. However, he is still a long-term option for Amorim at right wing-back.
Brentford ace Bryan Mbeumo has been linked with United this week, and it is fair to say he would be a statement signing after an impressive 20-goal haul this season. If he was to move to Old Trafford, he would be a guaranteed starter as the right-sided No.10.
Much of United's recruitment this summer will rest on outgoings, and that is no secret. But should they find themselves in a position where they land Cunha and potentially Mbeumo as well, Mainoo could find himself struggling to get into the starting XI.
A player of his talent will not be content with sitting on the bench every week.
Cunha's impending arrival could convince him to move on.