Amorim Needs More as United Fail to Secure Key Summer Signings

Manchester United’s Missed Summer: Fading Power and Fewer Options

Luxury in Chicago, Reality in Manchester

Manchester United’s pre-season base at the plush Waldorf Astoria in Chicago paints an image of prestige. Surrounded by designer boutiques like Louis Vuitton and Dior, it evokes memories of old grandeur. Yet the team’s recent on-pitch realities make that image feel more illusion than truth. After a 15th-place finish in the Premier League and with little movement in the transfer market, one line from The Mirror captures the mood perfectly: “a more appropriate retail backdrop for United would be Poundland, Poundstretcher and Cash Generator.”

That bluntness reflects the growing concern around Old Trafford. This was once the club that set the tone in summer windows. Now, despite landing Matheus Cunha from Wolves and nearing Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, there is an undeniable urgency. Manager Ruben Amorim reportedly “wants at least two more new faces,” and not just for depth. The Mirror explains that players must be sold to fund further arrivals.

Photo: IMAGO

No Europe, No Advantage

United’s failure to secure European football after a 1-0 loss to Tottenham in the Europa League final has significant ramifications. With fewer games next season, Amorim will need a tighter squad, but still one with far greater quality.

The Mirror makes no attempt to soften the blow: “it is a squad remains woefully short on quality in key areas,” and Amorim’s desperation is telling. A striker and a midfielder remain top priorities. Meanwhile, departures are expected among high-profile names like Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia.

Goals Still Hard to Find

Saturday’s goalless draw with newly-promoted Leeds in Stockholm felt like confirmation of what the numbers already show. Despite Mbeumo’s strong 20-goal campaign and Cunha’s creative spark, United “desperately need a new No.9.”

But the list of snubs speaks volumes about the club’s standing in the game today. “This summer has been one of missed opportunities,” says The Mirror, and the names are telling: Liam Delap chose Chelsea, Viktor Gyokeres turned down a reunion with Amorim to join Arsenal, and Hugo Ekitike is nearing a move to Liverpool.

It’s a brutal shift for a team that used to be a first-choice destination. Rasmus Hojlund’s hard work cannot mask his output: 26 goals in 95 games since his £72 million move from Atalanta.

Thin Positives Amid Mounting Pressure

There are some bright spots. The arrivals of Cunha and Mbeumo will help relieve the burden on Bruno Fernandes, United’s undisputed leader last season. His performances were so critical that The Mirror rightly points out “without [him] the side would almost certainly have been involved in a battle to stay in the Premier League.”

Lisandro Martinez’s return from injury and the signing of 18-year-old Diego Leon from Paraguay offer depth in defence. But with United set to face West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton during their U.S. tour, the signs must turn into substance soon. Soldier Field, MetLife Stadium and Mercedes-Benz Stadium offer glamour. What United need is grit.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

There’s no hiding from it anymore – Manchester United are no longer a superpower in the transfer market. This summer has been a glaring wake-up call for fans. Missing out on talents like Viktor Gyokeres and Hugo Ekitike, and even a younger option like Liam Delap, sends a painful message. Players are choosing project over prestige and right now, United is seen as a fading project.

Watching United fail to break down Leeds, even in a pre-season friendly, was frustrating. Cunha and Mbeumo are solid pick-ups but they’re not transformational. A proper No.9 still hasn’t arrived and, frankly, Hojlund hasn’t proven he can carry the weight. Fernandes can’t do it all forever. If Rashford, Sancho and Garnacho are on the out, then we need immediate clarity and reinvestment.

Amorim might have ideas, but with limited funds, few fixtures and a squad lacking belief, it’s starting to feel like another season of struggle is coming. It’s not about top four anymore, it’s about stability. That says everything.