Hugo Ekitike signs, £70m transfer, Marcus Rashford decision

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Manchester United are expected to line-up with a new-look attack for the 2025/26 season. Ruben Amorim's side have been hard at work across the summer preparing for the upcoming campaign.

After ending 2024/25 with disappointment - losing the Europa League final against Tottenham and missing out on Champions League football - United acted quickly to complete their first summer signing.

Matheus Cunha put pen to paper on a five-year contract at Old Trafford and arrived from Wolves in a deal worth £62.5million. The Brazilian scored 17 goals and added five assists in 36 matches last season.

He is set to slot straight into Amorim's attack, operating in the left No.10 position. Alejandro Garnacho and Christian Eriksen were among those to struggle in that role during the second half of the campaign.

It prompted Amorim to dip into the market for attack-minded midfielders and Cunha appears to be the perfect fit, having played in a similar role for Wolves across the last couple of years.

Alongside Cunha in the other No.10 position is anticipated to be another new signing, this time Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford. He would complete the 'dream' set-up behind the centre forward.

United have so far seen two offers - the latest worth more than £60m - rejected for Mbeumo. The 25-year-old, who scored 20 times and provided nine assists in 42 matches for Brentford last term, has made it clear that United is his preferred destination despite a £70m bid and interest from Tottenham and Thomas Frank.

A deal for Mbuemo is by no means set in stone but Like Cunha, he would add goals, assists, creativity and flair to Amorim's attack.

Completing United's new-look 'dream' front-three for the new season could be Hugo Ekitike, 23. Reports last month suggested that the Reds are 'monitoring' the Frenchman's situation as speculation continues to grow over his future. He scored 22 goals and conjured up 12 assists in 48 matches for Eintracht Frankfurt last season.

Liverpool and Newcastle United have been linked with a move for Ekitike but United need a new No.9 and appears to fit the bill.

Ollie Watkins, Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen are among the other strikers linked, and while Ekitike has the age and potential on his age compared to them three, his technical attributes fit the bill for United. For a tall man - 6"2 to be precise - Ekitike's passing, dribbling and link-up play is impressive.

As well as that, Ekitike seems to get into the right positions inside the box - a huge plus for any striker. Although his finishing might need to improve, having scored just 10 per cent of his shots in the Bundesliga last season, the ex-Paris Saint-Germain forward has all the credentials to be a superstar at United.

Frankfurt are demanding at least £60m to sanction Ekitike's departure and there is an expectation that he is going to leave the German side this summer. United would surely be foolish not to consider him, as while that might look like a steep fee, he has the potential to progress right to the very top in European football.

Looking at the back-up players for that 'dream' front-three and it's safe to say Joshua Zirkzee is among them. The Dutchman started to find some form just before he suffered a hamstring injury in April, ending his season in the progress.

He would act as second-fiddle to Cunha, with Rasmus Hojlund behind Ekitike in the pecking order up front. Hojlund's form was dour in 2024/25 scoring just 10 times in 52 matches, but he still has something about him and can add a different dimension to United's attack when needed.

Amad therefore would be Mbeumo's back-up, should the Brentford star sign. While there is some talk that Amad could be shifted and used as a right-wing back next season, his best position is in the more advanced role.

Mason Mount would be among the others to provide cover in the attacking midfield role when required, while the ex-Chelsea midfield maestro can drop into the deeper position, too.

Bruno Fernandes, meanwhile, would operate in the No.8 role in Amorim's new-look team for the season. He has often played further forward for United but he impressed a little further back last term.

With Ekitike, Cunha and Mbeumo as the 'dream' attack and Zirkzee, Mount, Amad and Hojlund in reserve, that is set to leave several players seeking an exit and a new club in the summer transfer window.

Marcus Rashford, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho would be the FOUR marquee players sold, having failed to cement a place in the United side over the last 12 months.

Rashford spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa and the West Midlands club had a £40million option to buy him in a permanent deal. However, despite scoring four times and providing six assists in 17 appearances, Villa have decided against triggering that clause.

Antony enjoyed an excellent spell at Real Betis and the Spanish side are desperate to retain his services. The Brazilian forward netted nine times and grabbed five assists during a successful loan stint in Spain.

Sancho joined Chelsea on loan last summer and scored five times and provided 10 assists in 41 matches for the Blues. While Enzo Maresca's side had a £25m obligation to buy the England international, they instead paid a £5m penalty fee to send him back to United at the end of the season.

Garnacho, unlike Rashford, Antony and Sancho, spent the whole of the 2024/25 season at United but he failed to set the world alight. The Argentine never settled into Amorim's system and is seeking an exit.

Dream United attack next season: Cunha, Mbeumo, Ekitike

United back-up attack: Zirkzee, Amad, Hojlund

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