Man Utd narrowly escapes disaster with ‘bomb squad’ but risk heavy price after missing England star amid Amorim uncertainty

A new era at Manchester United is underway as Ruben Amorim becomes the sixth full-time manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, facing the daunting task of reviving the club’s fortunes. Old Trafford has witnessed relentless spending and years of disappointment, with each new manager judged harshly by both results and recruitment decisions.

Amorim’s adoption of a 3-4-3 formation has drawn scrutiny, with some fearing it could backfire as it did for his predecessor, Erik ten Hag. There have been glimpses of promise, particularly in the first half of United’s tense Premier League victory over Burnley, where the team showed attacking flair before nearly letting their advantage slip, only to be rescued by a late Bruno Fernandes penalty.

The manager has introduced new attacking recruits, including Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, though Benjamin Sesko, the club’s £66 million striker, has yet to start regularly due to fitness concerns. United’s attacking output last season was their fifth–lowest in the league, and Amorim’s ability to fix this is being closely watched. Fans are desperate for a return to the entertaining football of previous eras.

However, the process of overhauling the squad is only just beginning. The club’s history of high-profile missteps in the transfer market—such as the £85 million spent on Antony—has haunted recent campaigns. Amorim’s challenge is to clear out underperforming players while gradually introducing genuine quality, a task unlikely to be completed in a single transfer window.

Questions remain over Amorim’s long-term future, with the pressures of the job taking their toll and the scale of the rebuild daunting. He maintains the recent transfer window was a success, citing Cunha, Mbeumo, and Sesko as key additions, while hoping that Senne Lammens will resolve ongoing goalkeeping issues that plagued Andre Onana and Altay Bayinder.

The club has managed to move on several unwanted players, but not without loss. Alejandro Garnacho’s value reportedly dropped after Amorim publicly criticized him, and United recouped only a fraction of Antony’s fee. Amorim’s standout signing so far is Cunha, though if Lammens performs under pressure, the young Belgian could prove equally pivotal.

Missed opportunities have also shaped the summer, with Conor Gallagher a late target before Atletico Madrid blocked a potential loan move. Gallagher’s energy in midfield could have freed Bruno Fernandes to play further forward, a tactical shift Amorim may revisit in upcoming windows.

Looking ahead to January, more transfer activity is expected. Gallagher remains on the radar, though his price is unlikely to fall below £40 million. Outgoings are certain, with Tyrell Malacia set to depart and Kobbie Mainoo’s future in question after being denied a loan move. If Mainoo continues to lack minutes, he may push for a transfer, with Napoli expressing interest. Meanwhile, either Onana or Bayinder is expected to leave by the end of the winter window—if not sooner.