Man United transfer briefing: Latest on club's pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo, the five strikers on Ruben Amorim's shortlist - and what that means for future of Rasmus Hojlund

Manchester United are edging closer to signing Bryan Mbeumo in what would be the club’s second big transfer of the summer.

It won’t be the last as Ruben Amorim looks to rebuild his squad after arriving at Old Trafford in November, a third of the way through what he described as a ‘disaster season’.

More players will be coming through the door and others will be leaving as United wheel and deal to generate more funds for head coach Amorim after committing around £130million to sign Brentford forward Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha from Wolves.

As the squad prepare to return for pre-season training at Carrington on Monday, Mail Sport assesses United’s transfer plans and what to expect this summer.

How close are United to signing Mbeumo?

A compromise appears to be in sight now after Brentford rejected two offers from United for the Cameroon international – one of £45m plus £10m in add-ons and a second of £55m plus £7.5m.

United thought that matching the £62.5m paid to Wolves for Cunha would be enough, but Brentford are understood to be demanding in excess of £65m with a larger initial payment.

United face competition from Tottenham after Mbeumo’s old boss Thomas Frank left Brentford to replace Ange Postecoglou at Spurs, but the boyhood United fan has made no secret of his desire to move to Old Trafford and there is growing confidence that the deal will be done.

The 25-year-old fits the profile United want in terms of age and the fact he is already proven in the Premier League. His personal terms of less than £200,000-a-week also bring him into line with the club’s plans to lower their wage bill.

Are there more deals in the pipeline?

United sources say nothing is imminent, although Diego Leon is due to land in Manchester any day now to complete a move from Paraguayan side Cerro Porteno worth up to £7m.

The clubs reached an agreement on a deal worth an initial £3.3m in January, but the teenage left-back couldn’t officially sign until he turned 18 in April.

Leon has agreed a five-year contract with the option of another year, and has already expressed a desire to break straight into the first-team by impressing Amorim in pre-season.

It’s more likely he will initially cut his teeth with the Under-21s as he acclimatises to life in a new country, although there is also the option to send him out on loan, as United did with Facundo Pellistri shortly after signing him from Uruguay at the same age.

Looking ahead, it’s hoped that Leon will compete with Patrick Dorgu and Harry Amass for the left wing-back slot in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation. Luke Shaw also returned to fitness towards the end of last season but was used as a left centre-back.

What impact would signing Cunha and Mbeumo have on the United line-up and where else will Amorim look to strengthen?

They have been signed to fill the two No.10 positions in Amorim’s system, which were occupied by a number of players last season.

Amad Diallo and Mason Mount are likely to be the other two options, assuming United can offload Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony.

It also means that captain Bruno Fernandes is likely to revert to a more permanent role in central midfield, having played in both positions for Amorim. Fernandes ended speculation over his future at Old Trafford last month by rejecting a mega-money offer to join Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

After Christian Eriksen left United as a free agent, Amorim is in the market for another central midfielder to play alongside Fernandes, Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte.

An additional centre-back may be needed depending on which players leave before the end of the transfer window, but a new striker will be the priority if and when the Mbeumo deal is done.

Who are the targets?

Strikers are routinely the players in highest demand, and this summer will be no exception. United will be competing in the same market as their Premier League rivals and have the disadvantage of not being able to offer Champions League football.

Viktor Gyokeres, who played under Amorim at Sporting Lisbon, is known to favour Arsenal over United, but the Gunners also like Newcastle striker Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig.

Their back-up options include former Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez, now at Atletico Madrid, and Ollie Watkins, having had a £40m bid for the Aston Villa star rejected in January.

United also face competition from Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, while Victor Osimhen’s wage demands - he wants in excess of £300,000-a-week - would appear to push the Napoli forward out of their reach.

Watkins has also been linked with United this week and would bring the Premier League experience that Amorim wants. However, at the age of 29 he would offer little resale value if United were prepared to meet Villa’s £50m asking price.

Where does that leave Rasmus Hojlund?

United suffered from a chronic lack of goals last season, with Hojlund scoring just 10 times – and four in the Premier League.

The club will listen to offers for the Denmark international but won’t get anything close to the £72m they paid Atalanta two years ago.

Most of the enquiries for Hojlund have been over loan moves, although there is concrete interest from Inter Milan in taking him back to Italy, which may develop into a permanent transfer or perhaps a loan with an obligation to buy at the end of it.

Hojlund has said he wants to stay and fight for his place at United and will report for pre-season training on Monday.

Are there any other big question marks hanging over the squad?

Goalkeeper Andre Onana is another whose future at Old Trafford has come under scrutiny this summer amid speculation over United moving for Villa’s No.1 Emi Martinez.

The Cameroon international has been linked with Monaco but would prefer to stay at United and, as it stands, the feeling at the club is that he will.

United have had a look at John Victor, of Botafogo, but it seems unlikely the 29-year-old Brazilian would come in as first choice. Altay Bayindir is still in situ as Onana’s No.2 and veteran Tom Heaton has signed a new one-year contract to provide additional back-up.

So who will be leaving then?

Clearly United want to offload Rashford, Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia – who were all out on loan for at least some part of last season – as well as Garnacho, after Amorim told him to ‘pray’ he can find a new club this summer. The young Argentina winger’s reaction to being benched for the Europa League final defeat to Spurs was the last straw for the United boss.

All five players are due back for pre-season on Monday and moving them out might be easier said than done. In the case of Rashford and Garnacho, there is a danger that Amorim has lowered their values by making it clear he wants them to leave.

Rashford is available for £40m but his £315,000-a-week wages are a stumbling block. There have been talks between his camp and Barcelona, and there are also reports in Germany of interest from Bayern Munich. Another loan is a possibility after he spent the second half of last season at Villa.

Sancho is a target for Juventus but they are unlikely to cover even half of his £275,000-a-week wages. The Italians have offered several players in exchange including Douglas Luiz and Dusan Vlahovic.

Juve had a deal in place with Sancho in January, but United instead loaned him to Chelsea who preferred to pay a £5m penalty to send him back rather than complete a permanent deal worth up to £25m. Chelsea and Sancho were unable to agree personal terms, highlighting United’s issue in getting rid of high earners.

Borussia Dortmund, who sold Sancho to United for £73m in 2021 and took him back on loan in the wake of his fall-out with former boss Erik ten Hag, are also considering him as a replacement for Jamie Gittens, who is joining Chelsea.

After Fernandes’ decision to stay at Old Trafford ruled out a bid from Al-Hilal in excess of £100m, Garnacho represents United’s best chance of a big transfer fee this summer. Technically a homegrown player, the 21-year-old would generate maximum profit on the balance sheet and was valued at around £60m before falling out with Amorim. Napoli have been long-time admirers and Chelsea are one of three Premier League clubs showing an interest after Spurs also inquired in January.

Antony rediscovered his form on loan at Real Betis and wants to join the Seville club permanently. However, it might be another loan with an obligation to buy and United want more than Betis are currently offering – believed to be around £30m – for a player who cost £86m from Ajax three years ago.

Malacia is also back at United after PSV Eindhoven decided not to make his loan move permanent for £8.3m, but he is unlikely to figure in Amorim’s plans.

Which young players are expected to catch the eye?

It looks set to once again be a season of opportunity and intrigue when it comes to United’s academy players breaking into the senior set-up.

Amass is eager to solidify his role in Amorim’s squad after breaking through last season, and other youngsters to watch include Bendito Mantato, who was unfortunate not to earn a first-team debut at the back end of last season. With United still struggling to land a new No.9, more minutes could be forthcoming for Chido Obi.

The likes of Sekou Kone and Jack Moorhouse, who trained regularly with the seniors last season, are due to seal loan moves in the near future.

Keep an eye on 14-year-old JJ Gabriel, too. While he is ineligible to appear in the first-team due to his age, do not be surprised if he wins the chance to train with Amorim’s squad at some stage during the campaign as part of a mapped out development plan that has been created by Jason Wilcox, Matt Hargreaves and senior academy staff members.