Manchester United’s Ambitious Summer: Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap in Focus

Manchester United could land Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap this summer if sales pave the way, with more attacking options also on the table. As Ruben Amorim plots a squad revamp, could this duo ignite United’s faltering frontline?

MANCHESTER UNITED TRANSFER NEWSMANCHESTER UNITED NEWS

4/11/20257 min read

Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap
Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap

Manchester United’s Ambitious Summer: Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap in Focus

As of April 11, 2025, Manchester United are gearing up for a transformative summer transfer window, with their sights set on bolstering their attacking ranks. Reports indicate that the club views signing both Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha and Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap as a “plausible” scenario—provided they can offload some high earners and fringe players. Under manager Ruben Amorim, United are exploring multiple options to fill their forward and No. 10 roles, with plenty of discussions anticipated in the coming months. This dual pursuit signals a bold intent to address a glaring weakness in a season marked by mid-table mediocrity, offering hope of a revitalized Red Devils attack come August.

United’s Attacking Woes

Manchester United’s 2024/25 campaign has been a tale of frustration up top. Sitting 10th in the Premier League with 35 points from 27 games, their 35 goals scored pale beside Liverpool’s 54 or Arsenal’s 48. Rasmus Hojlund, the £72 million Danish striker signed in 2023, has managed seven goals this term—decent, but not the 20-goal haul United crave. Joshua Zirkzee, a £36.5 million summer arrival from Bologna, has floundered with three strikes, his adaptation to England’s pace proving sluggish. The loanees—Marcus Rashford at Aston Villa (12 goals) and Jadon Sancho at Chelsea (two goals)—are unlikely to return, leaving gaps Amorim must fill.

Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system demands a clinical No. 9 and dynamic No. 10s to support Bruno Fernandes (six goals, six assists). Alejandro Garnacho’s eight goals from the wing offer flair, but the central roles lack punch. Posts on X from earlier this month highlight United’s limp 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest on March 31—a game crying out for a finisher. Cunha and Delap, with their contrasting styles, could be the answer—a seasoned creator and a raw goal-scorer to ignite United’s attack.

Matheus Cunha: The No. 10 Solution

Matheus Cunha, the 25-year-old Brazilian at Wolves, brings versatility and verve. Since joining from Atlético Madrid for £43 million in 2023, he’s blossomed into a Premier League standout. This season, he’s notched nine goals and eight assists in 27 games, his flair as a No. 10 or second striker dazzling defences. His 1.8 key passes per game, 2.1 dribbles, and 82% pass accuracy make him a playmaker United lack—someone to unlock tight backlines and feed Hojlund or Garnacho.

Cunha’s fit in Amorim’s system is seamless. His pressing (1.5 tackles per game) aligns with United’s high-line ethos, while his knack for late runs—think his stoppage-time winner against Fulham in March—adds unpredictability. Wolves, battling relegation with 25 points, might resist, but a £40-50 million bid could tempt them, especially with Cunha’s contract running to 2027. For United, he’s the creative spark to complement Fernandes, turning possession into points—a role Zirkzee’s struggled to own.

Liam Delap: The Striker of Tomorrow

Liam Delap, the 21-year-old Ipswich sensation, is the other half of United’s dream duo. Son of ex-Stoke throw-in maestro Rory Delap, he’s carved his own path—11 goals in 25 games this season for a promoted side hovering 15th with 30 points. His 6’1” frame, raw pace, and clinical finishing (75% shot accuracy) evoke a young Erling Haaland, a nod to his Manchester City academy roots. A £40 million relegation release clause—triggered if Ipswich drop—makes him a summer steal, though Chelsea and Arsenal lurk.

Delap’s a classic No. 9, thriving on crosses and through balls—perfect for Amorim’s setup. His physicality (60% aerial duels won) and 1.2 shots on target per game outstrip Hojlund’s output, offering United a striker to bully defenders and bury chances. Posts on X from early April peg him as United’s “most realistic” target—a proven Premier League prospect over pricier dreams like Victor Osimhen (£63m). Pair him with Cunha’s guile, and United’s attack gains balance: youth and experience, goals and assists.

The Financial Puzzle: Selling Well

The “plausible” caveat hinges on sales. United’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) constraints—after £1.2 billion spent since 2014—demand outgoings to fund incomings. Casemiro’s £350,000-weekly wages and £20 million valuation top the list; Saudi clubs hover. André Onana, linked with a £40 million Saudi move after Amorim’s consideration to drop him for Newcastle this Sunday, could follow. Jadon Sancho’s £25 million Chelsea obligation (or £5m penalty) and Antony’s potential £20 million Betis exit add liquidity.

A £90 million windfall from those four—Casemiro, Onana, Sancho, Antony—covers Cunha (£50m) and Delap (£40m) with change. Christian Eriksen’s free exit in June trims more fat. United’s £43.8 million Onana fee amortizes to £26 million by summer; a £40 million sale nets profit. INEOS’s leaner ethos—seen in Rashford’s loan—makes this feasible, but execution’s key. Without sales, Cunha and Delap remain a pipe dream, leaving United to scour cheaper alternatives.

The Competition and Timing

United aren’t alone. Chelsea, eyeing Delap for their youth-driven squad, could trigger his clause if Ipswich falter—five points above the drop zone with nine games left. Arsenal, needing a No. 9, and Newcastle, cash-rich, also watch. Cunha’s suitors are quieter, but Wolves’ relegation fight—six points from safety—could force their hand. United’s edge lies in Amorim’s pull and a clear role for both: Delap as Hojlund’s rival/partner, Cunha as Fernandes’ foil.

Timing’s tight. Posts on X suggest talks ramp up post-season, with May-June the window to strike. Delap’s clause activates if Ipswich go down; Cunha’s fee could drop if Wolves follow. United’s Europa League fate—needing wins after Lyon’s 2-1 sting—may sway budgets, but Amorim’s eyeing summer, not January. The Newcastle clash this Sunday tests current form; a Cunha-Delap coup plans for tomorrow.

How They Fit Amorim’s Vision

Amorim’s United craves dynamism. His 3-4-2-1 thrives with a mobile No. 9 (Delap) and two No. 10s (Cunha, Fernandes) linking play. Delap’s 11 goals dwarf Hojlund’s seven; his hold-up play (1.8 successful dribbles per game) feeds Garnacho’s runs. Cunha’s nine goals and eight assists outshine Zirkzee’s three—his creativity (1.8 key passes) unlocks defences Forest exposed in March’s 1-0 loss. Together, they’d lift United’s 35 goals to rival top-six tallies, easing pressure on a defence conceding 39.

The Forest defeat screamed for finishers; Cunha’s flair and Delap’s instinct could’ve turned it. Against Newcastle’s 42 goals this season, United’s attack needs teeth—Sunday’s a preview, summer’s the fix. Amorim’s youth bets—Mainoo, Garnacho—shine; Cunha (25) and Delap (21) extend that ethos with proven output.

Risks and Rewards

Risks loom. Delap’s 11 goals are untested over a full season—Hojlund’s ceiling might yet rise. Cunha’s Wolves form (nine goals) dips from his 2022/23 peak (14); the Premier League’s glare could unsettle both. At £90 million combined, United’s PSR tightrope wobbles—sales must hit targets, or it’s a budget bust. Injuries—Delap’s minor knocks, Cunha’s clean bill—add uncertainty to a squad plagued by absences (Shaw, Yoro).

Rewards tempt more. Cunha’s eight assists and Delap’s 11 goals could’ve flipped United’s five draws into wins, climbing them to sixth. Their youth promises resale value—£50 million each in three years isn’t far-fetched. Amorim’s system, leaner after loans, gains depth; a top-six push or Europa League glory becomes tangible. It’s a gamble, but one United can’t afford to miss.

Conclusion: A Summer to Seize

Manchester United’s pursuit of Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap is a bold bid to rewrite their season’s story. With sales as the linchpin—Casemiro, Onana, Sancho—£90 million could land a duo to transform a tepid attack into a force. Cunha’s creativity and Delap’s goals offer Amorim the tools to climb from 10th, blending youth with impact in a way Hojlund and Zirkzee haven’t. Risks of cost and fit linger, but the reward—a revitalized United challenging the elite—looms larger.

Sunday’s Newcastle test previews the need; summer delivers the answer. If United sell well, Cunha and Delap could don red by August, igniting Old Trafford’s roar. Amorim’s vision nears—plenty of talks await, but this double strike could be the spark. The window beckons; United must pounce, or watch rivals reap the spoils.

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