How do Manchester United’s summer signings change Ruben Amorim’s tactics?

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In early June, The Athletic offered the below starting XI as a suggestion of how Manchester United could play with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in the side.

In late July, we want to explore how these two purchases impact the tactical dynamics of Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3.

New No 10s change United’s needs at centre-forward

The arrival of Cunha and Mbeumo should bolster the attacking competency of Amorim’s side, but that does not mark the end of United’s possible moves in the transfer market. The club are still in search for a reliable goalscorer who could combine with the new duo, and the best type of striker for this role can be found in one of the pair’s previous partners.

Cunha played alongside a variety of centre-forwards across his time in Wolverhampton, but his more successful periods last season saw him play off Jorgen Strand Larsen — a 6ft 4in (1.93m) striker who does the majority of his work inside the penalty area. He provides a soft blueprint as to how United may approach any future recruitment.

The new United pair have a fondness for attacking the half spaces, reducing the need for the centre-forward to drift wide in search of the ball. Instead, the front three would be best led by a physical player who prefers to play on the last line of a defence. This hypothetical No 9 would push opposition back lines towards their own goal, giving Amorim’s new signings – and Bruno Fernandes behind them –  further space to exploit.

The pace of Rasmus Hojlund and Chido Obi means they have some suitability for the role. However, the latter is only 17 and still adjusting to the rigours of senior-level football, while the former’s movement in and around the penalty box suffered a confidence-related regression in 2024-25. Hojlund’s 23.1 touches per 90 ranked among the bottom 10 per cent for Premier League forwards last season, and his 1.4 shots per 90 put him in the bottom one per cent. Hojlund didn’t shoot enough last season, and there was a naivety to his off-ball runs that made him easy to defend against. It is hoped the summer break will allow him a period of reset and readjustment. A proper pre-season under Amorim may help him address previous frailties, but it is understandable the club is on the lookout for another forward.

Joshua Zirkzee’s tendency to drop deep and link up with team-mates should make him an intriguing second option for Amorim when needed. The Dutchman could serve as a target man, holding the ball up in the final third before Cunha and Mbeumo attack the spaces further forward that have been vacated. Amorim’s new signings should reduce the need for Zirkzee to become a 10-15 goal striker, provided he can create space and establish attacking chemistry with his new team-mates.

Do Hojlund or Zirkzee have a future at United? (Ash Donelon/Getty Images)

A knock-on effect for Amorim’s midfield

Amorim’s two new signings mean Fernandes will likely spend 2025-26 playing in central midfield. The club captain’s improvement in certain aspects of his play last season made him a more viable option when playing in deeper areas, but Amorim has a potential headache when deciding on who to best pair with him. Casemiro is the best player for the role among his current options, but he is now 33 and unable to cover space with the same intensity as in previous years. Manuel Ugarte has the mobility, but is not the kind of ball carrier nor passer Amorim seemingly desires.

The head coach may opt to change Fernandes’ midfield partner based on the strengths/weaknesses of opponents. Teams that are likely to defend deep and frustrate may see Casemiro or Kobbie Mainoo entrusted with the role, while matches against more front-footed opponents may see Ugarte or Toby Collyer chosen for their ability to run, tackle and cover ground. United’s pre-season 0-0 draw with Leeds United already saw the head coach discuss the importance of pace and energy in midfield. Given his preference for a two-player partnership, United will need to find an aggressive and athletic player who can help protect the centre of the pitch.

Fernandes is not your typical box-to-box player, making it a challenging task to find a complementary partner for him. Head here for a look at players who could — theoretically — fit the bill.

Mbeumo arrival will affect right wing-back selection

Mbeumo should serve as an amplifier of all that is good on the right side of United’s attack. His arrival also requires a recalibration of the situation at right wing-back. Amorim’s years in charge of Sporting CP saw him first convert full-backs into wing-backs, before later adapting more conventional wingers for the role. Early press conferences at United saw him occasionally refer to those in the wing-back positions as wingers, and his deployment of Amad in the role has differed from that of Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui.

“It’s really important in the position that Garna (Alejandro Garnacho) played today (against Athletic Club), as a right No 10, to have a left foot. It can change the way you play,” said the head coach towards the end of last season.

“To have some wingers that are more offensive than defensive, that can change the way we play.”

A look at Mbeumo’s runs from last season reveals a player fond of hunting in the left half-space. Give him time and space on the ball, and he’ll look to drive into the penalty area before cutting inside to shoot on his left foot. If he cannot do that, then the 26-year-old has the pace and the nous to beat a full-back on the outside before whipping a cross in.

These are all good things that would be enhanced by playing next to an attacking wing-back who can provide frequent overlapping runs, either to give Mbeumo an easy ball on the outside, or to help drag away defenders and ease his forays into central areas. However, defensive solidity from the wing-back would be essential, given Cunha, Mbeumo and Fernandes’ desire to get forward and start attacks.

Amorim faces a difficult decision about who to pair with his new forward. Dalot has the athletic capacity for the role, able to offer overlapping runs and sprint back to retreat when needed. However, he can be erratic when crossing, which limits his effectiveness when going forward. Mazraoui is a dependable performer, but is not a dominant one-v-one defender, which can cause issues further back.

Amad at right wing-back, alongside Mbeumo at right-sided 10, carries a tantalising amount of attacking potential. The Ivory Coast international is also left-footed with a preference for cutting inside into central areas, but has shown his talents in wider areas in the past. Amad’s hat-trick against Southampton in mid-January gave evidence of his attacking form when playing at wing-back; making late runs into the opposition area and causing havoc. His performance in a 4-0 win over Everton also demonstrated his defensive skills at wing-back. Amad may “only” be 5ft 8in (1.73m) but he can be a clever, proactive defender, pushing up and snatching possession away from opponents whenever he senses a poor touch or bad pass.

“What does Mbeumo’s arrival mean for Amad’s United future?” is a question worthy of its own 1,000-word piece. It also requires at least one pre-season game where they play together before The Athletic can begin to answer.

(We’ve chosen to focus on right wing-back for this section as Patrick Dorgu, Diego Leon and Luke Shaw offer enough variety in overlapping runs, ball progression and defensive nous to make Cunha’s acclimatisation easier on the left.)

Choice of right wing-back tied to options at right centre-back

The defensive alignment of Amorim’s back three will go a long way in providing the proper foundations for the attacking work of Cunha and Mbeumo ahead. United have an abundance of centre-backs that can help in this regard.

The attacking forays of an Amorim wing-back are best protected through the athletic endeavour of the wide centre-back behind them. Leny Yoro’s recovery pace makes him the best United centre-back when defending large areas of space, so he is — theoretically — the best option at right centre-back behind. However, the Frenchman showed glimmers of attacking prowess when operating on the left towards the end of last season, something Amorim may wish to nurture in this upcoming campaign as a way of helping Cunha and others.

If Yoro is deployed on the left, then Amorim might be inclined to play Mazraoui at right centre-back, given his experience and comfort when defending the wings. Last season, he developed a keen playing relationship with Amad on the right, which could be tweaked again, with Mazraoui offering overlapping runs from right centre-back as Amad and Mbeumo both look to attack the half spaces. Matthijs de Ligt also provides a no-nonsense, tough-tackling alternative from right centre-back in the event Amorim wants more defensive solidity in the wider areas.

Mazraoui has experience of defending the wings (Carl Recine/Getty Images)

These are ‘nice problems’ at least…

Cunha and Mbeumo have been signed, sealed and delivered to Amorim. Now begins the head-scratching tactical conundrum. There’s a considerable risk that United could mutate into a top-heavy “great entertainer” side: one capable of scoring goals, but unable to limit the quantity and quality of chances teams have against them.

A positive pre-season (and clean bill of health) will be essential to getting the best out of Cunha and Mbeumo early, as well as additional movement in the transfer market to address issues at centre-forward and central midfield.

The arrival of the duo creates nice problems for the United head coach to address through rhythm, routine and developing attacking patterns. Cunha and Mbeumo, working in sync with the likes of Fernandes, Amad, and others, should be something for fans to get excited about.

(Top photo: Ash Donelon/Getty Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

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