PREVIEW: Can Amorim’s Manchester United climb back up the table? | OneFootball

Manchester United’s 2024/25 season saw their worst final standing since the Premier League began, ending the season on 42 points in a bitterly disappointing 15th position.

Yet there was a chance of their season being revived when it came to the European stage, with the UEFA Europa League clearly prioritised over the league for Ruben Amorim. After a gutsy cup run from The Red Devils, most notably making a stunning comeback in extra time against Lyon in the quarter-finals, Manchester United found themselves in the final with a chance of winning a major European trophy and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.

However, the misery continued when they were defeated in the final by Tottenham Hotspur after a lifeless performance. This left Manchester United missing out on European football for the first time since the 14/15 campaign.

An exciting transfer window and a relatively positive pre-season from the club may give their fans some hope going into the new Premier League season, although many fans will know not to get too ahead of themselves after recruitments in previous transfer windows have failed to impress.

This one may feel different though, as Amorim will look to finally settle with a squad he is happy with and works in the system that he wants to play with. The aim for United this season will surely be to be fighting in the top half of the Premier League table again, and secure a position in Europe. A run in the domestic cups could also be on the cards, as Amorim will look to win his first bit of silverware as manager.

A new refurbished and exciting forward line

Amorim and Manchester United will line-up with a new-look attack this season, after delving into the market and also offloading. The Bryan Mbeumo deal took some time, but The Red Devils finally grabbed the signature of the Brentford attacker in July for a free of £70 million, he a player who scored 20 goals in the Premier League in the 24/25 season.

Premier League clubs were fighting over the signature of Matheus Cunha, but it was United who got the deal over the line for £62.5 million. The now former Wolverhampton Wanderers man will add some flare and creativity into the forward line.

The striker position is one where there has been a lot of concern over recent years for Manchester United, with Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee both costly signings who haven’t set the world alight at Old Trafford. There will be a lot of pressure on the man coming in to put the ball in the back of the net, but Benjain Šeško from RB Leipzig could step up to the task. The Slovenian scored 13 goals in the Bundesliga in the 24/25 season, and at 22 years of age, he has bags of potential to be a future world class striker.

The club may still delve into the market, with Champions League winner Gianluigi Donnarumma linked with a move to both sides of Manchester. There have been question marks over André Onana’s position in the team, but a move for one the best goalkeepers in the world would certainly answer those questions.

As for departures, Marcus Rashford completed his move to Barcelona in July after his future looked in doubt last season when he went on loan to Aston Villa. It was a difficult goodbye for both parties, but the future looks bright with the incomings for Manchester United.

The saga over Alejandro Garnacho continues to go on, with the Argentinian pushing for move to Chelsea after a falling out with Amorim. He is rumoured to have agreed personal terms with the UEFA Conference league winners, so a move looks to be on the cards for 21-year-old. It would be an unceremonious ending between Garnacho and Manchester United after some special moments.

Player to watch: Patrick Dorgu

Patrick Dorgu could be one to start tying down his position in the Manchester United team this season, showing promising signs in his appearances in last year’s campaign. The left-wing-back signed in February in 2024 from Lecce, with the attacking-minded Dane making 12 appearances in the league last season.

Dorgu has found himself in an attacking role in the left-back position, scoring in preseason against Bournemouth in a 4-1 victory and also standing out in their other friendly fixtures. The signs look bright going forward for Dorgu and Manchester United. The 20-year-old said recently in an interview that things were beginning to click with Amorim at the helm. The Dane was, in fact, his manager’s first signing at the club.

“I feel like the pre-season is helping everyone to understand Ruben’s ideas even more,” said Dorgu.

“The more training we have, the more we will grow into his ideas and I feel like it is being seen a little bit on the pitch already. We just keep improving.”

Key signing: Bryan Mbeumo

Mbeumo had his best season in a Brentford shirt last year, finding the back of the net 20 times in the league alone while also teeing up a teammate nine times in all competitions. His 28 goal contributions in 38 games in the Premier League saw him as one of the league’s most successful players in terms of output, helping his side to their second best Premier League finish under Thomas Frank.

Manchester United have typically gone for players abroad, but this deal should excite fans who have been glued up to the Premier league after impressing mightily for Brentford in recent years. The Cameroon international has excelled with a level of consistency, being the main man for The Bees, taking up that role when Ivan Toney departed the club.

It’s easy to feel the pressure when signing for Manchester United, but with Mbeumo’s Premier League experience and goalscoring in recent years, it’s hard to think that this wouldn’t be a successful piece of business for The Red Devils.

European return for Manchester United?

After a miserable campaign last time out, Amorim will be doing everything that he can to make sure that it was just a one off and not to be repeated. A 15th place finish and no trophies was simply just not good enough for a team with the stature of Manchester United.

If Amorim can get his team playing the system that worked so well at Sporting CP, then there is no reason with the quality that Manchester United possess, especially with the inclusion of some big names, that they can’t challenge in the top half and for Europe again this season.

There will be tough times in the season where Amorim, the board and the new signings are questioned, but if the fans are able to stick by them and support the project, then their manager may start to find his feet in England and get Manchester United back to where they feel they belong.