Manchester United can do something they haven't done for five years with new £194m attack

Manchester United can do something they haven't done for five years with new £194m attack

Man United have spent almost £200million on new signings to strengthen their attack ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Manchester United have assembled a new attack. (Image: Ben Roberts - Danehouse/Getty Images.)

Sunday's Premier League opener against Arsenal at Old Trafford is expected to mark the birth of Manchester United's new front line.

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After finishing last season's Premier League campaign with a negative goal difference of -10, United have rightfully prioritised attacking signings in this summer's transfer window.

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United set their stall out on the opening day of the window, announcing they had reached an agreement with Wolves to sign Matheus Cunha, triggering his £62.5million release clause. The deal was officially finalised 12 days later.

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United, following an extensive period of negotiating, went on to secure their second attacking signing of the summer, bringing in Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford. Like Cunha, the Cameroonian had his heart set on a move to Old Trafford, but the lack of a release clause in his Bees contract meant the deal was much more complex.

Eventually, an offer of £65m plus £6m in add-ons was enough to extract him from the Gtech Community Stadium. He scored 20 Premier League goals last season and was one of the best players in the division.

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The additions of Cunha and Mbeumo prior to the pre-season tour of the United States represented a fantastic start to the summer for United. The duo scored 37 goals between them last term, including 35 in the league.

However, United were still without a much-needed centre-forward. Step forward, Benjamin Sesko.

Less than a week after United completed their tour of the United States with a 2-2 draw against Everton in Atlanta, Sesko was unveiled to the fans at Old Trafford ahead of last Saturday's pre-season finale against Fiorentina.

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The Slovenian has joined United from German outfit RB Leipzig for an initial fee of £66.4m after scoring 21 goals in all competitions last season. He will succeed Rasmus Hojlund and become United's leading frontman.

Benjamin Sesko will be keen to put down an early marker this season. (Image: Matt McNulty/Getty Images.)

Hojlund, who could leave the club before the end of this summer's transfer window, joined United from Atalanta in August 2023 and has scored just 26 goals in 95 games for the Reds. United need Sesko to deliver the goods at a higher rate than that.

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Poised to spearhead an attack that will also feature Mbeumo and Cunha, Sesko should be confident about his chances. However, he will find himself under levels of pressure he has never previously experienced.

The No.9 spot at United is one of the most scrutinised positions in world football, meaning he will be under enormous pressure to hit the ground running. But with the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Cunha, Mbeumo and Amad buzzing around him, the supply line should be productive.

After scoring 21 goals for Leipzig last season, United will dream of seeing him score 20 goals in his first season at Old Trafford. Hitting the 20-goal mark would be a fantastic achievement.

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First and foremost, Sesko's first priority has to be reaching double figures as quickly as possible. United have signed him to score goals and ensure they are more prolific in front of goal.

Cunha and Mbeumo are poised to play just behind him and they will also share ambitions of reaching double figures. However, just like Sesko, they are also going to experience a whole new level of pressure at Old Trafford in comparison to what they have been used to previously.

Matheus Cunha (left) and Bryan Mbeumo scored 35 Premier League goals last season. (Image: Daniel Chesterton/Offside/Offside via Getty Images.)

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With no European football on the agenda this season, the Premier League will be United's bread and butter. They need to atone for last season's struggles and make a push for European qualification for 2026/27.

With a front three of Mbeumo, Cunha and Sesko, United will believe they have the tools to do so. The last time United had three players reach double figures in a Premier League campaign was when Edinson Cavani (10), Marcus Rashford (11) and Fernandes (18) consistently delivered the goods in the 2020/21 campaign.

By contrast, nobody reached double figures for United in the Premier League last season; Fernandes and Amad were their joint-top league scorers with eight.

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Accounting for the increase in expectations and all of the other caveats that come with a first season at a new club, if United reach the end of the 2025/26 season having watched Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko reach double figures for league goals, it will be considered a job well done.

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