Man Utd spent £236million on signings this summer to strengthen Ruben Amorim's squad after last season's woeful 15th-placed finish in the Premier League. But how have the new arrivals fared two months into the new campaign?
Manchester United spent £236million on new signings in the first summer transfer window of Ruben Amorim's reign.Big-money signings Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko were joined by less high-profile arrivals in left-back Diego Leon and goalkeeper Senme Lammens.
Now the new arrivals have had time to settle in, how have they fared since joining United? Here, we grade Amorim's summer recruits.
Matheus Cunha: There was huge expectation after United agreed a £65m deal with Wolves for the mercurial and tempestuous Brazil forward, but Cunha has made a slower than expected start to his United career.
Injured in the last-gasp 3-2 win over Burnley, when he was forced off in the first-half, he missed the 3-0 Manchester derby defeat, but returned at Brentford, with his cross to Mbeumo winning a penalty which was ultimately missed by skipper Bruno Fernandes. Mason Mount's goalscoring return in the 2-0 win over Sunderland and relentless industry has probably nudged him ahead of Cunha in terms of selection. It will be interesting to see how Cunha responds to that. 6
Bryan Mbeumo: The former Brentford forward, signed for £71m, has unquestionably been United's stand-out summer signing. Mbeumo has hit the ground running following his summer switch, which is all the more remarkable given he was behind his new team-mates in terms of pre-season fitness and only featured in the final game on United's US summer tour.
Two goals and an assist do not do justice to his overall contribution, his pace, physicality and diagonal runs in behind opposition defences giving United's attack a new dimension. He has started every Premier League game his season, underlining his importance. 8
Benjamin Sesko: Sesko has undeniably taken time to settle, but two goals in his last two games shows he is getting there and he has looked more comfortable with every game.
After admitting Sesko looked “on his own” in United's 3-0 derby defeat at Manchester City, Amorim has sought to tweak his approach by playing to the 6ft 4in striker's strengths, with long balls for him to flick-on for his fellow attackers to win the second balls and force opponents onto the back foot.
Sesko's poacher's instincts from close-range have yielded his goals and his physical strength, allied to his aerial threat, makes him a handful for defenders. 7
Senne Lammens: An £18.2million deadline day signing from Royal Antwerp, he was a relative unknown before arriving at United, who also looked at moving for Aston Villa's experienced World Cup-wining keeper Emi Martinez, but that deal broke down.
That saw United move for Lammens, who had to bide his time before making an assured debut in the 2-0 win over Sunderland, which had the Old Trafford crowd chanting “Are you Schmeichel in disguise?”.
Such was the assurance Lammens transmitted to his defence, unlike Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana before him, it is hard to see him being dislodged. He commanded his box, used both feet, showcased decent distribution and already looks a major upgrade between the posts. 7
Diego Leon: Defender Leon became United's second signing of the summer, after Cunha, when the 18-year-old joined from Paraguayan club Cerro Porteno for an initial fee of £3.3m, rising to £7m with add-ons.
Given Leon has yet to make his United debut, it is hard to grade him. He was named on the bench for the games against Grimsby, Manchester City, Brentford and Sunderland, but remained there.
Worryingly, he was subbed at half-time after failing to impress for
United's Under-21s in a 2-1 win at Liverpool last month, suggesting he
has a way to go before he can be considered for a first-team debut.