Matheus Cunha transfer could hand Alejandro Garnacho ideal Manchester United role
Man Utd will look to add Matheus Cunha to their squad in the summer transfer window.
There is now one player who stands alone in terms of the most appearances for Manchester United this season. United have played 53 matches across all competitions, and Alejandro Garnacho has featured in all but one of them. It is a remarkable statistic and one that proves how highly-rated he is by Ruben Amorim, as well as Erik ten Hag.
Garnacho has started 33 of those matches this season and is also fifth for the most minutes played, only behind Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes, Andre Onana and Noussair Mazraoui. They are all theoretically in the prime ages of their career, but Garnacho is still only 20 years old.
In recent weeks, that has been obvious to see. Garnacho has worked hard, but has not provided the end product. He should probably have scored twice at Bournemouth but didn't. He still has 10 goals this season, but could quite easily have doubled that figure if he had taken some of the opportunities that have fallen his way.
Those struggles are due to a combination of factors. He is a raw talent with huge potential, but he has suffered under the intense scrutiny of being a regular starter and the huge pressure to find goals when other teammates have also failed to do so. At his age, he should be a squad player, but United can't afford not to start him. Thankfully, an ideal solution might not be far away.
Garnacho could be handed new squad role this summer
Ruben Amorim has prioritised the addition of both a striker and an attacking midfielder in the summer transfer window, with Matheus Cunha a top target. There is a growing belief he will become a United player in the coming months and he could even be announced as their first signing of the window.
United view Cunha as a player with the talent and personality to thrive at Old Trafford, while the 25-year-old will arrive at the club full of confidence after a stellar individual season with Wolves. The plan will be for Cunha to occupy a key role in the starting line-up, most likely alongside Bruno Fernandes behind a new striker signing. It makes the competition for starting places even more intense.
Amad Diallo could be repurposed to a wing-back role to accommodate Cunha, while Fernandes, Joshua Zirkzee, Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo will also compete with Alejandro Garnacho for the other attacking midfield position. It might not be such a bad thing for the Argentine.
Garnacho is a unique talent in the forward line and so often made things happen this season, if he hasn't been at his optimum. There is a belief he would be better served as a squad player, who can come into the starting line up when required, but more often than not, function as an impact player from the bench and make key contributions.
With the proposed addition of Cunha and less burden on Garnacho to make things happen on his own, the academy graduate could benefit from the healthy competition and the change of role that is a better reflection of his current ability. He has as much potential as anyone at the club, but he will only fulfil it if they nurture him right.