After finishing last season in the 15th place in the Premier League, MU was forced to strongly in the transfer market this summer.
A season is located in the lower half of the rankings, empty -handed and continues to fluctuate on the pitch, causing MU to close the 2024/25 season with very little faith for the new campaign.
A 0-1 defeat against Tottenham in the Europa League final in Bilbao ended the hope of winning tickets to the Champions League, meaning the Red Devils this season will be absent from the European Cup for the first time since the 2014/15 season.
The biggest concern right after that failure is MU's shopping ability in the summer. Without the European Cup, many people who are afraid of the Reds will be difficult to attract players.
However, when the market was less than 4 weeks to close, MU still had the opportunity to turn this into the most powerful summer transfer for many years, largely thanks to “returning to the past” and applying an old formula.
At the end of the last season with the goal difference of -10 in the Premier League, MU was right when prioritizing the additional attack. By this time, they have recruited Matheus Cuha from Wolves and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford.
The duo is among the best players of the Premier League last season, scoring a total of 35 goals in the tournament. MU quickly activated CunHa's £ 62.5 million release clause on the opening day of the transfer, before moving to MBeumo target and completing the deal last month.
Cumha, who is familiar with the 3-4-2-1 scheme, is the ideal choice for the position of 10 left in the squad of coach Ruben Amorim. Meanwhile, Mbeumo brings versatility in attack. Both are quality strikers and have been contacted with Premier League clubs with the Champions League, but eventually chose to sign a long -term contract with the Red Devils.
CuHa – Officially joined MU on June 12 – becoming the first striker that Old Trafford team bought from a Premier League team since Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) in January 2018.
In the 2017/18 season, MU is a strong “giant”, bringing 4 large contracts, of which the three played in the Premier League: Romelu Lukaku from Everton, Nemanja Matic from Chelsea and Sanchez from Arsenal. Since then, they have never bought 3 Premier League players in the same transfer period. This can change if they succeed with Brighton's Carlos Baleba.
Despite priority this summer, MU still wants to reinforce the middle line before the deadline of 1/9. Their squad lacks energy and drastic in the middle area, so a new midfielder is extremely necessary.
Balea, 21, joined Brighton from Lille in 2023 and increasingly progressed, becoming one of the most notable young talents in the Premier League. According to The Athletic, MU contacted Brighton through intermediaries.
Although only 21 years old and only 61 Premier League matches, BaleBa has proven himself as a comprehensive midfielder, possessing the qualities that MU is very lacking. He once expressed his desire to win the title and a typical example of Brighton's ability to hunt for talent: Discover “rough gem”, honed and resell at high prices.
Although no contract guarantees success, risks will be reduced when recruiting players has confirmed the ability in the tournament that you need them to shine. CuHa and Mbeumo are affirmative deals for MU, and BaleBa will be the same if they arrive at Old Trafford.
After many years of betting on rookies from abroad, it is encouraging to see MU “return to the old formula” this summer. Mbeumo and Cunha have proven that they have enough qualities to succeed at Old Trafford, and Balea can completely follow them.