Alan Shearer tells Ruben Amorim that Man United need EIGHT signings this summer – and £62.5m Matheus Cunha ‘wouldn’t make a difference’
Alan Shearer has argued that Manchester United need ‘six or seven’ more signings on top of Matheus Cunha, as they close in on a deal to sign the Wolves forward.
The Red Devils are set to suffer their worst Premier League finish in history, making their current low of eighth place – achieved under Erik ten Hag last season – look more acceptable by the day.
Amorim’s strugglers sit 14th in the table, just two points ahead of West Ham in 17th. Elsewhere, they were bounced out of the EFL Cup in the quarter-final by Tottenham and eliminated in the FA Cup by Fulham in the fifth round.
United are also on track to log their worst goalscoring tally in a Premier League campaign ever, eclipsing Louis van Gaal’s final season in 2015-16 when they scored 49 goals.
So far this season, United have netted just 38 in 33 league games; at this rate, they are set to finish the season on 44 goals.
Amid a historically poor season, the common narrative is that United’s players are not at the standard needed to reinstate them as Champions League hopefuls, let alone Premier League title-challengers, as was once the expectation at Old Trafford.
Alan Shearer argued Manchester United need up to seven signings on top of Matheus Cunha
Mail Sport understands United are close to agreeing personal terms with the Wolves forward
The Red Devils are set to log their lowest finish and goalscoring tally in Premier League history
And as United close in on a deal to sign Cunha – Wolves’s top scorer this season – Shearer argued that Amorim needs more than a one-man fix.
‘[He] wouldn’t make a difference for Man United – they’re going to need another six or seven players on top of that,’ Shearer said.
‘He’s just one of the players, if it is going to happen, but yeah I get it and I understand it.’
Mail Sport understands United are inching closer to bringing Cunha to Old Trafford and are working to agree on personal terms.
United will still need to activate the Brazilian’s £62.5million release clause but are hopeful of having terms in place by next month while they still have headroom under Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Amorim has made no secret of his admiration for Cunha, praising his versatility and goalscoring output.
The Portuguese boss was also spotted in conversation with Cunha after United and Wolves met at Molineux and again in the tunnel at Old Trafford on Sunday, where the visitors snatched a 1-0 win.
United also hope to sign Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap but face increasing competition for his signature as Chelsea and others consider activating his £30m release clause.
United sit 14th in the Premier League table and have managed just 38 goals in 33 league games
Owing to PSR, finances are at a premium for Amorim, and further recruitment plans will hinge on sales and whether they can qualify for Europe.
United face Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final tie this week. Glory in the competition would secure them qualification to the Champions League next season.
United have also held discussions over Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, Red Bull Leipzig’s Xavi Simons and Benjamin Sesko, Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace and Antoine Semenyo at Bournemouth as they draw up lists for all scenarios.
The transfer fee from the sales of ‘homegrown’ talents Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo would contribute as 100 per cent profit on United’s balance sheet in their aim to avoid PSR breaches.
As was the case when the Red Devils let Scott McTominay leave for Napoli last summer, shipping off two of their brightest academy graduates may help fund a sorely needed squad overhaul this summer.
