Positivity has been a short-lived thing at Manchester United in recent times, although the past week has provided reason for optimism, following a pivotal few days off the field.
With manager Ruben Amorim confirming his future at the club ahead of the final game of the season against Aston Villa - which ended in a rare victory - the Red Devils were further boosted by the news on Tuesday that his compatriot and captain, Bruno Fernandes, has turned down a move to Al-Hilal.
Despite admitting to having held talks with the Saudi side, the 30-year-old outlined that he remained committed to the Old Trafford outfit, with the club seemingly only intending to cash in had the playmaker requested to leave.
Elsewhere, meanwhile, United have also confirmed that an agreement has been reached for the signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers talisman, Matheus Cunha, with that £62.5m deal looking set to be followed by the capture of Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo.
The latest on Mbeumo's move to Man Utd
Much to the irritation of rival supporters, a United side who finished 15th in the Premier League last season still appear to have some of the old magic left, having been able to convince Cunha into sealing a move, despite the lack of European football next term.
Damsgaard-Mbeumo-Brentford
The same looks to be true in the case of Mbeumo, with The Athletic's David Ornstein breaking the news on Monday evening that the Cameroon international wants to join the Red Devils, with club-to-club talks set to take place with the Bees.
Ornstein revealed that despite rival interest from the likes of Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur - all of whom have qualified for the Champions League - the 25-year-old's preference is to move to Manchester, should a deal be agreed.
While a stumbling block could emerge amid reports from The Times that the winger is set to demand a wage increase to £250k-per-week, it would be a surprise not to see the former Troyes man lining up under Amorim next season.
With Cunha and perhaps Mbeumo in the bag, United could now turn their attention to another Premier League star in the bid to bolster the forward line.
Man Utd keeping tabs on Premier League forward
The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell - writing in the Transfer Deal Sheet - noted that the 'priority' for United this summer is 'adding goals to the team', with the top-flight strugglers netting just 44 times in total in the league. For context, Cunha and Mbeumo alone scored 35 league goals between them.
That search for more firepower has led to INEOS turning their attention toward Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo, with Whitwell outlining that the Ghanaian is a player being 'looked at' by the club.
This follows prior reports which indicated that United were actually leading the race for the 25-year-old's signature, albeit with it yet to be seen if they would be willing to meet the Cherries' reported £60m asking price.
antoine-semenyo-bournemouth
Having already missed out on Chelsea-bound striker, Liam Delap, moving for another Premier League-proven talent like Semenyo could be the perfect solution for Amorim this summer.
Why Semenyo can thrive with Mbeumo
While there will be the question of whether Mbeumo will be able to replicate his recent heroics amid the pressures that come with playing for the Red Devils, there will also be an intrigue as to whether he can thrive without his current partner-in-crime, Yoane Wissa.
Mbeumo-Wissa-Brentford-stats
Indeed, under Thomas Frank's guidance in 2024/25, the United target scored 20 goals in the top-flight, with the 28-year-old Wissa registering a remarkable tally of 19 league goals of his own.
That deadly and fluid combination saw the in-form pairing dovetail beautifully as the spearheads of Brentford's frontline, with the duo both able to operate on the flanks or in a central role.
It could be argued that bringing Semenyo into the fold could allow Mbeumo to find his new Wissa in the process, with the former Bristol City man also a highly flexible and versatile asset who can thrive out wide, through the middle or even in a wing-back role.
Described as "almost unplayable on his day" by journalist Ed Aarons, Semenyo enjoyed a positive season of his own at the Vitality Stadium, having registered 11 goals and five assists in the Premier League, after previously racking up eight goals in 2023/24.
The beauty of the 6 foot 1 sensation is just how two-footed he is, with the record above outlining his similarity to Wissa, with regard to his ability to score with either foot, thus making him a particularly dangerous proposition.
What is particularly key regarding the Wissa-Mbeumo combination has been their speed on the counter-attack, something that pundit Danny Murphy noted last year, after highlighting the "width and pace with Wissa and Mbeumo, two players playing with confidence with a real threat."
Semenyo's PL season in numbers - 24/25
Stat
Non-penalty goals
Assists
Shots
Shot-creating actions
Pass completion
Progressive carries
Progressive passes
Successful take-ons
Tackles
Aerial duels won
*compared to attacking mid/wingers in PL
Stats via FBref
Those attributes are certainly shared by the Bournemouth man, his former Bristol boss Nigel Pearson having described him as "very difficult to play against" due to his "power and pace".
Semenyo's ability to thrive in tandem with his fellow forwards is also showcased by the fact that he created 11 'big chances' in 2024/25, while averaging 1.2 key passes per game, thus ensuring that Mbeumo would again have quality service to thrive off.
AFC Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo scores their third goal
While not an orthodox striker by trade, having Semenyo operating through the middle could then allow Mbeumo to flourish alongside him, with that final attacking berth taken up by the aforementioned Cunha.
Having so often witnessed a limp attacking unit at the Theatre of Dreams of late, what a mouthwatering prospect that trio would be.
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