It’s hard to imagine where Manchester United would be without Bruno Fernandes, with the Portuguese international undoubtedly the shining light in what’s been a dismal 2024/25 campaign.
The Red Devils finished 15th in the Premier League, just a couple of places above the drop zone, mainly due to the 30-year-old’s goal contributions, which saw him register 18 combined goals and assists in his 36 appearances.
He also fired Ruben Amorim’s side to the Europa League final, achieving a total of 37 combined goals and assists across all competitions, by far and away the most in the first team.
Fernandes has maintained such levels over a sustained period after joining for £47m back in 2020, with such a deal now looking a bargain given his form at Old Trafford.
He’s registered 20 or more contributions in every year he’s spent with the Red Devils, but he desperately needs reinforcements in attacking areas next season if the side are to progress up the table.
The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer
Victor Osimhen has been a name widely linked with a move to Old Trafford this window, with the Nigerian looking to secure a move away from Napoli after spending the season on loan at Galatasaray.
Viktor Gyokeres is another player on Jason Wilcox’s radar, but it remains to be seen if they can convince him to secure a reunion with Amorim after the Swede stated his desire to move to Arsenal this summer.
However, the same can’t be said for Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, with a deal seemingly edging closer to completion, according to reports..
The report notes that personal terms have been agreed over a summer switch to Old Trafford, with no other side having an opportunity to hijack the deal at this stage.
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It’s also states that the two clubs are edging closer to agreeing a fee for his signature, with the Bees previously demanding a fee in the region of £70m to part ways with their star man.
Why Mbeumo would be United’s best signing since Bruno
There’s no doubt that Bruno has been United’s star man in recent seasons, but other players have joined the club and made an impact, just not on the same level and on a consistent basis.
Amad Diallo is one player who has demonstrated his quality over recent years, with the 2024/25 campaign his major breakout year within the first team.
The Ivorian has netted 11 goals and registered eight assists this campaign, with his best moment undoubtedly coming in the Manchester Derby – netting the winner against Pep Guardiola’s men at the Etihad.
Rasmus Hojlund was another big-money addition, also joining from Atalanta like Amad, but ultimately, his spell in England has been a disaster, scoring just 26 times in his two years at the club.
The signing of the Dane was the last time the club spent £70m or more on a player, but this time, a deal for Mbeumo will land them a proven Premier League star.
His experience in such a division will be key to any success at Old Trafford, potentially linking up with Bruno and improving on his tally, which saw him bag 20 goals in a season for the first time in his career.
The “superb” talent, as labelled by analyst Harry Brooks, has massively outperformed the aforementioned pair in 2024/25, further showcasing why he’d be the best signing since the Portuguese playmaker.
Games played
38
26
32
Goals & assists
27
14
4
Shot-on-target accuracy
43%
36%
40%
Progressive passes
3.7
2.8
0.4
Passes into final third
1.7
1.2
0.6
Take-on success
47%
46%
27%
Goals per shot on target
0.5
0.4
0.3
Alongside outscoring the duo, he’s also notched a higher goal per shot-on-target rate this season, reaffirming the clinical ability he possesses within the final third.
However, alongside his goalscoring ability, he’s also demonstrated his creativity, completing more progressive passes and more passes into the final third – able to have an impact whether it’s scoring or assisting in attacking areas.
If he can carry over such form to Old Trafford next campaign, he will be a phenomenal addition and one that could take some of the pressure off Fernandes in terms of being the key man for United.
The club have often spent big and been unsuccessful, as seen with Hojlund, but this time around, there’s a different feel, with Mbeumo having all the tools to be a success at the Theatre of Dreams.
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