The Premier League’s new Cunha is ready and waiting for Man Utd to sign him

The knives will be out if Manchester United don’t strengthen even further this summer, but it’s worth saying that INEOS do have credit in the bank following an impressive summer of business in 2025.

All four major arrivals from last year enjoyed successful debut campaigns in their own right, with Senne Lammens claiming the Premier League‘s ‘Transfer of the Season’ award, while Benjamin Sesko notched a creditable 12 goals in all competitions.

That tally saw the Slovenian finish level alongside £65m man, Bryan Mbeumo, as United’s top scorer, with Matheus Cunha joining the pair in reaching double figures for league goals.

It was an initial slow start for Cunha at Old Trafford, but the Brazilian is already approaching cult status. Might he be the best of the bunch as far as INEOS are concerned?

Why Matheus Cunha might be INEOS’ best signing so far

The new regime were no doubt stung by their business in 2024, with Manuel Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee both enduring dismal spells since then, while fellow arrivals Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui have faced their fair share of injury woe.

Positive strides were taken with the investment in Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu in January 2025, with that astute business setting the tone for what followed last summer, as the aforementioned quartet were added to Ruben Amorim’s ranks.

It would be fair to say Lammens was the biggest surprise success story, providing a much-needed sense of calm in the sticks, but in terms of overall impact and status, might Cunha take the biscuit?

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers talisman did only score ten times last season, but what a catalogue of finishes he produced, be it his thumping effort from the angle against Fulham, or his first Old Trafford goal against Brighton and Hove Albion from range.

The surfboarding South American saved his finest moment for the Emirates, however, rifling in an exquisite finish to seal a stunning 3-2 win over the would-be champions.

Such efforts don’t even scratch the surface, it must be said, with there so much to like about Cunha’s game, not least the fact he appears to relish wearing a red jersey that has weighed heavy on so many before him.

He’s rough and ready, the type of player who can drag United through a game when he wants to, such a force when carrying the ball forward from deep.

Cunha really is the benchmark when it comes to recent signings at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils excitingly looking to seal a potential repeat.

How Man Utd could repeat Cunha success this summer

It’s all about the midfield unit and left-back right now, but it would be wrong to suggest United’s forward line is the finished product, with Sesko still nursing injury woes and Marcus Rashford’s future remaining uncertain.

Action Images via Reuters / John Sibley

Throw into the mix the likely exit of Zirkzee, and the struggles of Amad last season, and it’s clear to see why Michael Carrick could do with something extra in attack, particularly ahead of a Champions League return.

The Red Devils have already missed out on reported target, Crysencio Summerville, to Al Hilal, although they could now be looking at another player brimming with Premier League experience, in the form of Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye.

As per CaughtOffside, United – alongside both Liverpool and Arsenal – have held talks with the player’s camp regarding a potential deal, with Ndiaye having shunned a Saudi move of his own.

He is said to be ‘really keen’ to seal a move and remain playing at the highest level, with the key sticking point likely to be the Toffees’ £75m asking price.

That is said to be ‘too high’ for the likes of United, but considering how inflated this current market is, that doesn’t appear outrageous, the 26-year-old likely to only cost just above what INEOS forked out for Cunha and Mbeumo a year ago.

He’s a similar age to the pair, and is particularly alike Cunha in terms of what he offers in attack, mirroring the Brazilian as someone who can operate on either flank or in a number ten role when needed.

Like Cunha too, Ndiaye is such a master at carrying the ball forward, boasting a stellar average of 2.3 successful dribbles per game, just ahead of the United man’s 1.3 average.

For context, in terms of total successful dribbles, the Senegalese international ranked second in the division with 73, behind only Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku (84), reinforcing Jamie O’Hara’s claim that he’s “one of the best players in the Premier League.”

He is a real delight to watch, a true maverick talent, but one who also boasts a reliable end product, certainly mirroring Cunha in that sense.

Indeed, last season saw the ex-Marseille speedster score and assist nine league goals, while creating seven ‘big chances’, having previously ended 2024/25 with nine top-flight goals to his name.

He’s not prolific, yet neither is Cunha, in truth, with United’s number ten only just ahead with 12 goals and assists chalked up last season, albeit having created just four ‘big chances’.

There’s also a hustle and bustle to Ndiaye’s game, as seen in his average of 2.7 tackles and interceptions, alongside 5.6 ball recoveries, again mirroring Cunha as someone who offers so much out of possession too.

Maybe this isn’t the superstar name that some sections of the support are craving, but as both Cunha and Mbeumo showcased, bringing in a proven Premier League talent can help spark an immediate uplift.