"Cunha, Delap & Youth Invasion" – Sharpe on Man Utd’s summer reshuffle

Lee Sharpe believes a summer influx of new signings will fire former club Manchester United back up the Premier League standings next season.

Having gone into the 2024/25 campaign with their sights set on Champions League qualification, things have not gone to plan for United.

They head into the final game of the season against Aston Villa in 16th position, and could feasibly finish just one point above the relegation zone.

United also came up short in the League Cup and FA Cup, but still have the chance to rescue something from the season by winning the Europa League.

Regardless of the outcome against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, the club must significantly improve their squad this summer.

Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap and Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha have been strongly linked with moves to the club.

Speaking exclusively to Man Utd News with courtesy of Coin Poker, Sharpe said both players would be welcome signings at Old Trafford.

“I’ve been impressed by Delap this season,” he said. “I’ve seen him a few times – he’s a robust centre forward who holds the ball up really well.

“He has an eye for goal, a typical sort of old-fashioned number nine, if you like. I think he would be a great addition.

“Cunha has been superb at Wolves. The only question would be about his temperament, rather than anything else.

“But ability-wise, he can unlock defences and score goals out of nothing. He works his socks off, which is what you’d like to see in every player.”

Defeating Tottenham in Bilbao this evening would give manager Ruben Amorim some breathing room ahead of a pivotal summer for the club.

While the former Sporting CP boss has guided United into a European final, the club’s domestic results have not been up to scratch.

However, Sharpe believes the club will support Amorim during the summer transfer window and give him more time to implement his ideas.

“The manager is very safe at the moment,” Sharpe added. “They will probably bring half a dozen players in to rebuild during the summer to get a squad that can play by his tactics and philosophy.

“If they get the players Amorim wants, they should be challenging for the top six. Even if they lose to Tottenham, I think they’ll keep the faith in him.

“They’re both in for change, and that’s what he’s implementing. Change is ugly sometimes – horrible and awkward.

“They’ll give him money to spend in the summer, and he’ll be under pressure next Christmas (if things don’t improve), but that’s what he’s been brought in for.

“The team he had at Sporting – that’s the sort of football that they brought him in for, and they’ve got to give him time to implement that.”

In addition to strengthening their squad in the summer transfer window, United are expected to promote some of their younger players for next season.

The club has been on a mission to acquire emerging talents with room to develop, and several of them have already caught Amorim’s attention.

Sharpe highlighted a trio of youngsters he believes can feature regularly in United’s first-team squad.

“Harry Amass has done well, and I would have liked to have seen a bit more of Chido Obi,” Sharpe said.

“It’s difficult to bring young players in when the team is struggling, as it can affect their confidence and their game down the line.

“But I think with the way that Rasmus (Hojlund) has struggled, it might have been best to bring him out for a few games and give Obi a few games to get himself up to speed.

“(Ayden) Heaven came in and did well before getting injured. I see a lot of potential in him.

“With a few new additions in the summer, we could see a different outfit next season, which is what we all want.”

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Article written by michaeljblack .