Manchester United's summer transfer window in 2025 ended with 4 notable new players and 9 first-team players leaving. This is a strong overhaul compared to the squad that coach Ruben Amorim took over from Erik ten Hag in November last year.
Although he admitted that the club had solved some problems, the Portuguese coach still believes that there are many limitations that have not been completely overcome.
At the end of last season, the data analysis department was tasked with determining the main reason for Man United's decline. The results show that the lack of goals is a key factor, more important than any other issue.
It was this discovery that prompted Amorim, CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox to focus their transfer budget on strengthening their attack. As a result, there were three major signings, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, at huge costs.
Cunha and Mbeumo are the two top targets of the "Red Devils" this summer. According to British media, many other strikers are also on the list of considerations, but Sesko was chosen thanks to his young age, development potential and a reasonable salary structure that has been agreed upon with RB Leipzig.
Meanwhile, the goalkeeper position is only considered a secondary priority, but Man United still managed to complete the £21.5 million deal with Senne Lammens on the last day of the transfer window. The deal came shortly after Alejandro Garnacho joined Chelsea, Antony moved to Real Betis and Rasmus Hojlund was loaned to Napoli.
The three players left at the last minute to earn the "Red Devils" nearly £65 million. In addition, Jadon Sancho's loan to Aston Villa has also significantly reduced the club's salary burden.
Lammens has long been on the list of potential goalkeeper targets for Man United. However, Royal Antwerp's efforts to sign him were only really boosted after Altay Bayindir's mistake in the opening match of the season against Arsenal.
The arrival of Lammens puts Amorim in a difficult position. Man United consider the Belgian goalkeeper a great talent, but he is not sure to be the number one choice immediately. This means that the competition in the wood frame will be more complicated when there is a new face.
Conversely, if Man United had had recruited Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa as rumored in the final days of the transfer window, this problem could have been resolved soon.
Amorim now expects one of the four experienced goalkeepers, including Tom Heaton (39), to quickly establish himself as the first choice. However, he still has to make a key decision: who will start in the big match against Manchester City at the Etihad right after the international break.
Another challenge for Amorim is in midfield. According to a source inside Man United, recruiting midfielders has never been seen as a top priority this summer. However, the plan changed after Sesko arrived at Old Trafford.
Although the Slovenia striker was brought in to complete the 3-man attack, the club's leadership has since begun to look for a new midfielder. The names considered include Carlos Baleba (Brighton), Joao Gomes (Wolves) and Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart).
The decision to delay the midfield increase until at least January has left Amorim's squad unbalanced at an important stage. He has many attacking options such as Cunha, Mbeumo, Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo and Joshua Zirkzee. All can take on the role of number 10. However, in the deep-lying midfield position, he only has Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo.
To solve the personnel problem, Fernandes will likely be moved down to play in the lower division, paired with Ugarte, Casemiro or Mainoo. However, all four of these names lack the necessary mobility to cover the huge void that often comes to light in Amorim's 3-4-3 system.
The lack of cohesion in the midfield of M.U was a weakness under Ten Hag and continued to recur last season with Amorim. If not fixed soon, this could become a weak point for Man United.
