The summer transfer window is officially open, and Manchester United have already completed their first signing to strengthen the squad. Matheus Cunha was officially announced as the initial summer arrival on Sunday, joining from Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers in a permanent deal.
The Brazil international is expected to compete for a spot as one of the number ten players operating behind the main striker in Ruben Amorim`s planned 3-4-2-1 system for the 2025/26 season.
Cunha recorded an impressive tally of 15 goals and six assists for Wolves in the Premier League last season, suggesting he could offer a significant goal threat for the Red Devils.
The Brazilian star appears to be an exciting acquisition on paper, having already proven himself in the Premier League. There may also be further attacking players arriving at the club.
However, Liam Delap will not be one of them, as it seems United are set to lose the race to sign the England U21 international this summer.
Why Missing Out on Delap is a Setback for Manchester United
Chelsea are reportedly close to signing the English forward from Ipswich Town, following their relegation from the Premier League, for a fee of £30m, triggered by a release clause in his contract.
Playing in the Champions League is reportedly a major factor in his decision to move to Stamford Bridge, which is likely why he is not heading to Old Trafford, as they will not participate in any European football next season.
United were reportedly in a strong position to sign Delap previously, before their loss in the Europa League final. Missing out on him now should be considered a blow for the club.
The 22-year-old joined Ipswich permanently from Manchester City last summer and had a notable debut campaign in the Premier League, despite his side`s relegation.
| 24/25 Premier League | Liam Delap |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 37 |
| xG | 9.34 |
| Goals | 12 |
| Conversion rate | 18% |
| Big chances created | 3 |
| Assists | 2 |
As shown in the table, Delap was effective in front of goal for Ipswich, scoring 12 goals from an expected goals (xG) tally of just 9.34, demonstrating his capability to score consistently at that level.
The release clause in his contract also meant he was available for a favourable fee of £30m. The Red Devils may now need to pay more than that to secure an alternative centre-forward option.
A recent report suggests that the Premier League giants are exploring numerous other possibilities to strengthen their attack in the coming weeks.
United Identify Bundesliga Forward as Target
According to Sky Sports, Manchester United failing to qualify for Champions League football was a `major blow` that contributed to them missing out on the deal for Delap from Ipswich.
However, the report adds that Amorim has other centre-forwards on his shortlist for the summer transfer window, as he aims to provide Cunha with a number nine to play behind.
It reveals that RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko has emerged as one of the potential targets for the Red Devils, alongside Sporting forward Viktor Gyokeres.
The Slovenia international is reportedly one of the strikers on their radar after missing out on Delap to Chelsea, and he is said to have an £84m release clause in his contract with the German club.
This implies that Sesko could be considerably more expensive than Delap – £54m more, to be precise – unless they can negotiate a lower fee. Nevertheless, he could still arrive as a promising upgrade on Rasmus Hojlund for Amorim.
Why Manchester United Should Target Benjamin Sesko
The Premier League giants should aim to sign the Slovenian number nine this summer because he possesses the potential to be a fantastic addition to the squad.
It`s clear that Hojlund did not score enough goals in the league during the 2024/25 season. The Denmark international finished the campaign with only four goals from 5.24 xG in 32 appearances in the division.
Manchester United`s primary striker averaged a goal every 506 minutes in the Premier League, which is simply inadequate for a team that should aspire to challenge for the title.
With Sesko, the Red Devils could potentially find a centre-forward better equipped to challenge at the top of the league table, based on his form for RB Leipzig this season.
The 22-year-old star, who recently scored a stunning trivela goal against Bayern Munich, concluded the 2024/25 campaign with a return
