The latest Manchester United transfer news and opinion as we take a look at the attacking options that could be available to Ruben Amorim for the first Premier League match of the season.
Amie is a football writer covering clubs across the country, she has been a football fan all of her life and supports Leicester City. She graduated with a degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology in 2015. Amie has previous experience in local radio in Leicester and Leicestershire.
Benjamin Sesko during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and FC St. Pauli 1910 at Red Bull Arena.
Manchester United are pushing to complete the transfer of Benjamin Sesko ahead of Newcastle United.
(Image: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Manchester United’s summer transfer window so far has concentrated on improving the attacking areas of Ruben Amorim’s squad.
Early in the window, the club completed the £62.5 million capture of Wolves’ standout player Matheus Cunha, after triggering his release clause. United have also signed Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo for a deal worth up to £71 million.
Both players will add strength to Amorim’s attacking options for the upcoming season, which starts in under two weeks. United begin their campaign with a home game against Arsenal on Sunday, 17 August (4.30pm kick-off).
Before that game there could yet still be some more changes to the United squad, especially in the attacking third. One of the priorities is to bring a new central striker to the club.
The club are pushing to sign RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, but face strong competition from Premier League rivals Newcastle United. United are now said to have submitted a £65.2 million plus £8.7 million in add-ons bid to Leipzig for the player in what is their first official offer.
It means if Sesko does join and all clauses add-ons for all three deals end up being met, United's forward line for the forthcoming season will have set them back £207.4m this summer, although with costs likely to be spread out across the duration of the players' contracts.
Newcastle also have an offer on the table for Sesko, however, with it seemingly now up to the striker as to who he would prefer to sign for this summer.
If United do come out on top, then it would be a big boost ahead of the new season. It would help to complete their new-look attack before the first kick of the campaign has happened.
As well as incomings, there is also expected to be some outgoings of attacking players this summer. All three of Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony have been told to find new clubs and have not been part of Amorim’s pre-season plans.
Chelsea are said to have retained an interest in Garnacho after keeping an eye on him in January. Both Anthony and Sancho spent at least part of last season on loan, Anthony with Spanish side Real Betis and Sancho with Chelsea.
If United are able to sell all three on a permanent basis it would be a boost in terms of both bringing in transfer fees which could potentially be reinvested into the squad, as well as getting more wages off the books.
If the transfers mentioned happened, here’s what United’s attacking options could look like for the game against Arsenal. Both Cunha and Mbeumo are expected to be used primarily in the number 10 roles, but could also be options as a number nine.
Man United dream attack:
Number 10s: Amad, Mbeumo, Cunha, Zirkzee, Mount.
Number 9s: Sesko, Hojlund, Obi, Mbeumo, Cunha.
Strongest front three: Cunha, Sesko, Mbeumo.