Manchester United might have solved one transfer wish after what star did vs West Ham

Manchester United have targeted a defensive midfield signing in the summer transfer window. They might have already found their solution a year ago. Manuel Ugarte endured a difficult debut campaign in English football, but his impressive performance against West Ham was a reminder that patience is required in the modern world of harsh opinions and hot takes.

The 24-year-old dominated the midfield battle with a calm and composed display, while he also interjected moments of energy and enterprise when required. It all came together with a sensational passage of play that almost led to a goal when he set up Amad, only for his effort to be ruled out by the offside flag.

A lot more will be required if he is to prove he has truly turned a corner under Ruben Amorim, though there can be no ignoring the genuine positives on show. With money tight and time is a at a premium, United will find it tough to sign a midfielder who can play better than Ugarte did against West Ham.

Mbeum-no

Manchester United fans had to wait patiently to sign Bryan Mbeumo this summer. They will have to wait even longer before they get to see him in action. There was plenty of excitement over a prospective debut against West Ham; he wasn’t even named in their matchday squad.

Ruben Amorim took the controversial decision to leave the new summer signing out altogether and cited his delayed start to pre-season as the reason why he was not yet match fit. Mbeumo did not train with Brentford before he moved to United but is expected to feature when they face Bournemouth next week.

It was an important reminder that there is still a long way to go before the start of the new Premier League season and Amorim is not prepared to take any unnecessary risks ahead of their season-opener against Arsenal.

Cunha catches the eye

Bryan Mbeumo might not have featured, but Manchester United supporters got an exciting glimpse of Matheus Cunha as he made his second appearance since he signed from Wolves. The Brazilian was a livewire in the forward line, not only through his perpetual attacking threat, but also through his energy and intelligence.

Cunha was confident in possession and carried the ball forward whenever he got the opportunity, while he also found pockets of space and linked up neatly with his teammates. There will be far tougher tests on the horizon, but it was another encouraging display that showcased the raw talent United have on their hands, who is desperate to take his game to the next level.

A strong line up

Ruben Amorim reiterated there will be plenty of changes to his starting line up before the start of the season, but it certainly felt like a blueprint was in place with the side they selected against West Ham. Not only did they field a strong side for the match, they also played 65 minutes of it before wholesale changes were made.

Altay Bayindir started in goal in place of the injured Andre Onana, Ayden Heaven started in defence over the injured Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte came into midfield with Bryan Mbeumo not involved.

With a new striker not expected before the start of the new Premier League campaign and a defensive midfielder still deemed unlikely, we might already only be three changes away from their strongest line up for the opening weekend. Their performances over the coming pre-season tour will no doubt influence that, but after a commanding first performance in the US, it could be closer than you think.

The same old story

No matter what Ruben Amorim aims to change at Manchester United this coming season, he won’t be able to escape the fact Bruno Fernandes is still as important as ever. At one stage, it looked like the Portuguese playmaker might not make it to pre-season amid a transfer offer from Saudi Arabia, it is a good thing he did.

Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo will both bring plenty of attacking flair and creativity to the United side, but it will take some doing for either of them to outshine Fernandes. The United captain was their most influential player in the West Ham win, with two well-taken goals and a firm grip on proceedings during his time on the pitch.

It is both a blessing and a curse. Fernandes is expected to occupy a deeper midfield role to accommodate the new signings, but he is still at his best as one of the attacking midfielders. It is a welcome problem for Amorim to have, though it is still one he must solve.

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