Manchester United had their worst season in a generation in 2024-25. Much will need to change to improve their fortunes, but there are plenty of obstacles in their way.
It’s that time of year again as we start contemplating Manchester United’s almost annual summer rebuild after another season of disappointment.
The difference this time is the disappointment saw them plumb new depths, finishing 15th in the Premier League and missing out on European football altogether as a result of their defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final.
United last finished lower in the top flight way back in 1973-74, coming 21st and suffering relegation to the second tier. 2024-25 was only the fifth time since World War II that they’ve finished 15th or lower.
While the club’s response to failure in the recent past has been to spend, spend, spend, their well-publicised financial constraints make that a little trickier this time, with player sales pretty much essential.
Here, we run the rule over the United squad and identify which players are candidates to depart and the areas they’ll want to strengthen as a priority.
Goalkeeper and Defence
Okay, we know what you’re thinking: that United need to strengthen every position in the team. That may be, but we’re going to try to remain realistic – this is only semi-fantasy football.
With that in mind, then, the area United arguably have the most depth is in defence.
The emergence of Ayden Heaven in the second half of last season following his move from Arsenal was encouraging, with the young centre-back showing good quality with and without the ball.
Similarly, Tyler Fredricson acquitted himself well when United were short of centre-back options in the latter stages of the campaign.
But that does raise another consideration. Despite their numbers looking fairly healthy in this area if you consider – the admittedly unproven despite their promise – Heaven and Fredricson as first-teamers, United did find themselves short at centre-back in 2024-25 regardless.
None of their senior options, bar Noussair Mazraoui, were particularly reliable in terms of fitness, and they’ve since said farewell to Victor Lindelöf and Jonny Evans. In fact, their 23 different combinations at centre-back was the highest in the Premier League (Wolves second on 17). While undoubtedly influenced by a mid-season switch to a back three, there’s also no doubt injuries played a massive part in this.
So, unless Amorim considers 17-year-old Godwill Kukonki – occasionally named on the bench by the Portuguese coach – ready to step up to the first team on a full-time basis, adding an extra centre-back might be prudent.
It’s probably not a priority, though, given United will have considerably fewer games in 2025-26.
The most they could possibly have – and that’s only if they reach the finals of both the EFL Cup and FA Cup – is 50, though they are only guaranteed 40; just three times since the turn of the century have they played 50 or fewer games in a single season (49 – 2021-22, 44 – 2014-15, 46 – 2003-04).
There is likely to be some movement with the goalkeepers, but perhaps not in the way some supporters hope.
It’s fair to say André Onana’s two years at the club have been underwhelming, with the Cameroonian often proving a liability. His eight errors leading to goals in all competitions since the start of 2023-24 is the second most among all goalkeepers from the top five European leagues. He’s averaged one every 1,151 minutes, which is the 12th worst among the 113 keepers to play at least 3,000 minutes in that time.
There have been some tentative links with a move away and the club are apparently interested in Emiliano Martínez, but the strongest reports have indicated United are expecting Onana to remain. If he doesn’t leave, it’s unlikely they’ll sanction a considerable outlay on Aston Villa’s number one.
However, speculation towards the end of the season suggested back-up goalkeeper Altay Bayindir has been made available for transfer at a modest fee, so he’s likely a good bet for moving on.
It could be that Radek Vítek, the 21-year-old Czech who’s just returned from a promising loan spell with Blau-Weiß Linz in the Austrian Bundesliga, impresses sufficiently on the pre-season tour and takes over from Bayindir.
Otherwise, a number two will have to be sought, assuming Bayindir leaves, as United cannot go into the new season with only 39-year-old Tom Heaton – who’s not played a Premier League game since 1 January 2020 – as Onana’s only cover.
Midfield and Wing-Back
While United’s options at the back could probably suffice for the time being, there’s definitely work to be done across midfield – potentially including at wing-back, which is where we’ll begin.
When the majority of their wide options were fit last season, Diogo Dalot was the first-choice pick at right wing-back, though Mazraoui and Amad Diallo featured there too.
Dalot has been a perfectly steady right-back for United, but there are many who doubt his suitability as a wing-back, mostly because he isn’t that quick and doesn’t routinely get into attacking positions. In fairness to him, this is something he’s aware of, telling United’s website in April that he thinks he “can get into even better positions and arrive a little bit more [in the final third], and that’s the challenge I have”.
But in an ideal world, Amorim would probably bring in a hard-working, offensively switched-on right-sided wing-back. Given priorities probably lie elsewhere, though, a compromise might be required.
Amad looked more effective further up the pitch and was one of the few United attackers to impress last term, leading the way for the club for non-penalty goal involvements per 90 (0.62) in all competitions.
But there is reason to believe he might – rightly or wrongly – end up being used as a wing-back more often. For one thing, he has the sheer energy, dynamism and attacking mentality Dalot lacks; there’s also the likelihood Bryan Mbeumo comes in to occupy the role the Ivorian played on the right side of the attack in 2024-25.
But Amad proved himself to be too good to leave out, and so dividing his time between wing-back and back-up to Mbeumo might initially appeal to Amorim as an option if funds aren’t there to bring in a natural wing-back. United will lose some defensive nous, of course, but that might be a trade-off they’re willing to accept.
One of the aforementioned priorities probably ought to be in central midfield. Amorim has really struggled to get the balance right in United’s engine room but appeared to ultimately settle on a pairing of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro.
For Casemiro, the final months of the season coincided with a real renaissance as he played a key part in some vital Europa League wins and won his place back after initially falling out of favour following Amorim’s arrival.
But make no mistake, the Brazilian doesn’t have anything like the physical capacity he once did, and he represents a major weakness in the midfield against teams who transition well and quickly – he just cannot keep up.
Among central and defensive midfielders to play at least 450 minutes in 2024-25, Casemiro had the third-lowest top speed (30.5 km/h). Similarly, United saw their opponents reach the final third with transitions – attacking a team that is out of defensive shape – on 541 occasions, the sixth most in the Premier League.
The issue United are likely to have – just as they did last summer – is offloading him, as he is on massive wages. So, he’ll likely stay, but can Amorim afford for him to be the primary partner of someone (Fernandes) who isn’t the most defensively conscious?
Amorim ideally needs a player who’s comfortable receiving the ball from the centre-backs while under pressure, able to dictate the tempo and is defensively disciplined and mobile enough to do the dirty work that eludes Fernandes; Manuel Ugarte ticks some of those boxes but isn’t especially effective with his distribution, so may not quite fit the bill.
Kobbie Mainoo certainly has the distribution and composure down to a tee, but question marks linger over his defensive ability and mobility. Plus, Amorim has suggested in the past that the England international’s future might lie further up the pitch, such is his quality on the ball.
The player they need may not be attainable – he might not even exist beyond Manchester City’s Rodri. But the Fernandes-Casemiro axis doesn’t feel like a safe long-term fit.
Christian Eriksen’s exit has reduced United’s options, too, though Amorim might feel there’s not quite the same need for depth without European football. Youngsters Sekou Koné and Toby Collyer might benefit from the Dane’s departure if they aren’t loaned out.
Attack
Man Utd managed just 44 Premier League goals in 2024-25 at a rate of 1.15 per game; they last averaged fewer in a top-flight season in 1973-74 (0.9), which ended in relegation.
Rasmus Højlund led the line for much of 2024-25 and scored just four league goals from chances worth a measly 5.2 expected goals. But his ineffectiveness in front of goal was merely the tip of the iceberg, as the Denmark international struggled to impose himself in any way.
His understudy, Joshua Zirkzee, wasn’t much better in front of goal but at least showed hints of his technical ability, and he looked more useful as one of the number 10s anyway.
So, for all the deficiencies in the United squad, the priority has to be a centre-forward – and that’s why they’ve been linked with a host of names, such as Viktor Gyökeres, Victor Osimhen and Hugo Ekitiké.
Of course, United have already acquired Matheus Cunha from Wolves, and the Brazil international should ensure the team have more of a goal threat from the number 10 positions. Similarly, the club are clearly trying to sign Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo for the other role supporting the striker – it’s a deal we are essentially assuming will be done.
The beauty of Mbeumo in particular is he’s effectively played the last season as part of an orthodox front two, so operating in those central areas – even if coming in off the right initially – is something he’s adept at.
It might be that having players like Mbeumo and Cunha – who are more subtle and comfortable in congested central areas than say Alejandro Garnacho – automatically helps get more from Højlund. But it would be bordering on negligent to just expect the Dane to improve dramatically and kick on without some form of competition beyond his inexperienced and raw compatriot, Chido Obi.
For the moment, it seems likelier Højlund will stay at the club as they’d probably make a substantial loss on him if they sold now. Nevertheless, if Inter’s reported interest is genuine and an offer upwards of £30m+ arrived, it’s difficult to imagine United turning that down.
Considering CEO Omar Berrada’s assertion that United need to “balance the books”, sales are going to be crucial, and especially in the forwards department. United have several players who aren’t suited to Amorim’s system or have failed to live up to expectations – or both, in some cases.
Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony all appear to be expendable. Between them, United would ordinarily be confident of generating a substantial amount of funds, especially considering Garnacho’s age and Antony’s promising form on loan at Real Betis.
But the eye-watering wages of Rashford and Sancho could be obstacles, meaning there’s no guarantee either will be offloaded, and the club’s track record in generating cash from sales is poor.
This will be Amorim’s first summer transfer window in charge and it’ll likely have a huge say in the degree of improvement he can inspire. With an especially tricky start to the season ahead, the coach will want as much business done as soon as possible.
But outside of Cunha and Mbeumo, almost any United conduct will apparently be intrinsically linked to player sales, meaning there’s a reasonable likelihood their dealings drag into the latter weeks of the window.
It could be a long summer for United, but at least 2025-26 can’t be any worse than 2024-25… Can it?
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