Manchester United are pursuing an interest in Brentford’s Bryan Mbuemo even though Ruben Amorim will make Matheus Cunha his first signing of the summer.
United have agreed terms with Cunha over a five-year contract with the option of an additional year, and are ready to hand him Marcus Rashford’s No.10 shirt.
However, they have yet to trigger the Brazilian’s £62.5million release clause at Wolves which must be paid in three instalments of £20.85m over two years.
United are expected to make a formal approach and Cunha could travel to Manchester for a medical before the end of the week.
The 25-year-old will fill one of the two No.10 roles in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, and Mbuemo is among the candidates for the other after United held initial talks with the Cameroon international’s camp.
Manager Thomas Frank admitted at the weekend that Brentford will listen to offers for Mbuemo, 25, who would cost around £50m plus add-ons.
Bryan Mbeumo is of interest to Manchester United but Brentford value him at £50m plus
Matheus Cunha is expected to become Ruben Amorim’s first signing of the summer window
Amorim wants the two Premier League stars to play in the No 10 positions behind the striker
United are also in the market for a centre-forward, but it’s understood that Chelsea have edged ahead of them in the race for their No.1 target Liam Delap who can leave Ipswich for £30m.
United must sell to buy this summer after missing out on a £100m Champions League windfall. They landed in Kuala Lumpur on Monday on a post-season tour that will earn the club £8m.
A number of forwards will be allowed to leave including Alejandro Garnacho, Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho.
Bruno Fernandes is still considering an offer from Saudi club Al-Hilal worth £200m over three years. United are desperate not to lose their captain, but would find it hard to reject a bid in the region of £100m.
With Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans leaving as free agents on June 30 and more set to follow, the number of players heading out of Old Trafford this summer could hit double figures.
