3 weeks ago
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Manchester United has flown out to the United States for its preseason tour, with its squad revamp still a work in progress.
The Red Devils entered the summer transfer window with grand plans to overhaul their team following a disappointing season, but progress has been sluggish. A loss in the Europa League final and a 15th-place finish in the Premier League sparked serious introspection within the camp.
The plan was to back Ruben Amorim in the transfer market, offload unwanted players, and hit the reset button. The early acquisition of Matheus Cunha from Wolves seemed to signal a strong intent. However, it took another six weeks for the second signing to be confirmed, with Bryan Mbeumo joining from Brentford on Monday.
Cunha and Mbeumo are significant signings for the Red Devils, who have secured two of the Premier League's most promising talents, despite not being able to offer them European soccer next season. Yet there is still a considerable amount of work to be done before the transfer window closes on September 1.
One position that has been making headlines recently is the goalkeeper spot, with interest in Aston Villa's Emi Martinez apparent. United reportedly put forward a loan offer for the World Cup winner, which was promptly turned down by Villa.
Andre Onana's blunders are well-known, and Altay Bayindir didn't fare much better when he filled in last season. Emi Martinez would undoubtedly be an upgrade if United can secure a deal; the problem is that he's contracted to Villa until June 2029, and the Birmingham-based club is unlikely to approve a sale to a direct competitor.
Royal Antwerp's Senne Lammens is another player on United's radar, especially with Onana currently recovering from a hamstring injury. Valued at around $23 million by his Belgian club, Lammens presents a more feasible option.
According to The Athletic, another area where Amorim seeks enhancement is the deep-lying midfield position. Casemiro is past his prime, Manuel Ugarte hasn't consistently impressed, and Kobbie Mainoo, similar to Scott McTominay before him, is better suited to a more advanced role.
United has been linked with Atalanta star Ederson, and the Brazilian seems to be an ideal match. Juventus and Inter Milan have also shown interest in Ederson, who Atalanta value at around $70 million, but United may have the upper hand due to its good relations with the Italian club, having previously signed Rasmus Hojlund and Amad from them.
Ederson's role in the defensive midfield would enable Amorim to deploy captain Bruno Fernandes in one of his two central midfield positions, with new signings Mbeumo and Cunha taking up the No. 10 roles.
Sporting Lisbon's Morten Hjulmand, a familiar face to Amorim, presents another option.
In the forward line, United is on the hunt for a center-forward. Benjamin Sesko first caught United's eye as a 16-year-old in Slovenia, and the club held discussions last summer.
Earlier this summer, it seemed Arsenal favored him over Gyokeres, but the London club ultimately changed its mind.
Sesko is believed to be valued at around $80.1 million by RB Leipzig and possesses the versatile skill set to function as a lone center-forward in Amorim's system.
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