DONE DEALS: Mbeumo’s squad number revealed, Nkunku completes medical to join, Victor Osimhen arrived in Manchester for medical and more-Manchester United’s latest transfer news as Bryan Mbeumo is given a very strange squad number
Manchester United are desperate to restore themselves as a European superpower next season. Too long has it been since the Red Devils stood atop the Premier League pile and were feared across the continent.
But despite the woes of the 2024/25 campaign, Ruben Amorim is determined to piece together a team capable of challenging at the highest level.
Despite the slow start, this can be found through the £62.5m signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha.
Cunha isn’t quite a focal frontman; the Brazil forward is mobile and destructive and will enhance every facet of Man United’s attacking play.
However, the search for forwards doesn’t stop there.
The latest on Man Utd’s search for forwards Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo remains INEOS’s focus in the summer transfer window, but it’s been revealed that Rasmus Hojlund might not be quite so close to leaving as had previously been expected.
If Hojlund is to stay put, United’s need for an out-and-out frontman will be lessened. But more depth is needed all the same, and could arrive in the form of a Premier League star desperate for a resurgence to match.
Well, according to Spanish reports, United have settled their focus on Chelsea outcast Christopher Nkunku, having entered negotiations with the Blues for the transfer of the versatile forward, who has been valued at £35m.
With Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony all touted for exits in the coming weeks, this might be a shrewd signing for a player who hasn’t enjoyed their finest form at Stamford Bridge but is undoubtedly talented enough to succeed under Amorim’s wing.
Why Man Utd want Christopher Nkunku Nkunku’s stint at Chelsea has not gone to plan. Having signed for the Blues from RB Leipzig for £52m in June 2023, the Les Bleus star has only started 11 matches in the Premier League, with injuries and issues finding fluency hampering him.
Given that he would be arriving from a Premier League rival and, indeed, considering the type of player he is, Nkunku might even prove to be Amorim’s next version of Cunha, only a month after reeling the Wolves sensation over to Old Trafford.
Journalist Zach Lowy had remarked that the Frenchman was “unstoppable” during his time with RB Leipzig, and while his time at Stamford Bridge has left plenty to be desired, we can see from the player’s skill set his underlying dynamic ability, which remains intact.
While Cunha clearly outstrips Nkunku, there’s enough on show through the data to illustrate his roundedness. All that’s still required is a return to the goalscoring form that saw 58 goals and 29 assists harvested across his final two campa with Leipzig.
He was, and still could be, one of the best in the Premier League, endowed with the wide scope Cunha so remarkably possesses.
Indeed, just take a look at Nkunku’s Bundesliga highlight reel to understand the level of a forward who may yet realise his potential in the Premier League.
### 🔴 Nkunku-to‑United: smart coup or risky roll of the dice?
Manchester United’s hunt for extra punch up front has taken a twist: talks are under way with Chelsea over **Christopher Nkunku** for about **£35 million**. Here’s the 360‑view on why INEOS and Rúben Amorim like the deal—and why fans may feel a twinge of déjà‑vu.
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#### 📈 Why the move tempts United
| Trait | What Nkunku offers | Why United need it |
| ———————— | —————————————————— | ——————————————————————– |
| **Position‑flex** | False 9, second striker, No 10, or wide left | Lets Amorim switch between a 4‑3‑3 and a 3‑4‑3 without new personnel |
| **Ball carry & link‑up** | Elite close control, can drop, swivel and slip runners | Ideal foil for Matheus Cunha and Kobbie Mainoo in transition |
| **Pressing IQ** | Leipzig data placed him in BL top‑10 for high regains | Fits Amorim’s vertical‑pressing blueprint |
| **Set‑piece punch** | Dead‑ball delivery & late‑box arrivals | United ranked 15th in PL set‑play xG last year |
At his RB Leipzig peak (2021‑22), Nkunku produced **35 G/A in 34 league games**—the type of end product United lacked after limping to just **44 league goals** last season.
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#### ⚠️ The red flags
1. **Fitness record** – knee then hamstring issues cut his Chelsea debut season to *1,000 league minutes*.
2. **Rhythm** – only 11 PL starts; struggled to knit into Enzo Maresca’s more rigid structure.
3. **Role overlap** – arrival squeezes Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford zones unless exits happen.
4. **Wage band** – will want parity with current £150k/week; that’s high for a “reclamation project”.
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#### 🔄 Squad dominoes if Nkunku signs
* **Rashford** shifted permanently to left wing or sold if big bid arrives.
* **Antony / Sancho / Greenwood** – at least **two** likely to depart to fund wages and squad space.
* **Bruno** stays central but may play deeper 8 in tough away fixtures.
* **Cunha** becomes roaming No 9/false‑9, with Nkunku floating around him.
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#### 💰 Is £35 m a bargain?
For a 27‑year‑old in supposed prime, £35 m is half what Chelsea paid. If United’s medics are satisfied the knee/hamstring problems are fully resolved, the upside is enormous: a **peak‑age creator‑scorer** who already knows the league.
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### 🏁 Verdict
**High‑upside, medium‑risk.**
If Amorim can restore the Leipzig version of Nkunku, United gain a fluid, relentless forward line that finally blends creativity with movement. If injuries persist, it’s Weghorst‑redux with a bigger wage bill.
Would you gamble on Nkunku—or put those funds toward a pure finisher like Joshua Zirkzee? Let me know your move.
