Man Utd's £127m Attack Revamp: Will It Fix Goal Drought?

Manchester United's summer transfer strategy has focused heavily on addressing their glaring lack of goals after last season's disappointing Premier League campaign. The Red Devils scored just 44 goals - their lowest tally in a top-flight season since 1973-74.

United's attacking overhaul

The club has invested £127.5m in attacking reinforcements, including:

• Bryan Mbeumo (£65m from Brentford)
• Matheus Cunha (from Wolves)

However, with both new signings primarily operating in number 10 roles, questions remain about United's central striker position. Will Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee benefit from this added creativity, or does the club still need a proven number nine?

"United's attack clearly needed improvement. Mbeumo brings Premier League-proven quality - work rate, energy and goals. While expensive, he's exactly the type of ready-made player they need," said Premier League winner Chris Sutton.

The Hojlund dilemma

United's striking options present a significant challenge:

• Hojlund scored just 4 league goals last season (from 5.2 xG)
• Zirkzee managed only 3 goals
• Missed out on target Liam Delap (joined Chelsea)
• Limited options in the transfer market for proven strikers

Sutton notes: "While service to Hojlund has been poor, questions remain about his natural goalscoring ability. At 22, he has time to develop, but United need immediate results."

Mbeumo's potential impact

The Cameroonian forward brings several key attributes:

• Scored 20 Premier League goals last season (4th highest)
• Versatile - can play right wing or centrally
• Excellent ball carrier with strong end product
• Led Premier League in expected assists (9.3 xA)

"Playing for United brings different expectations than Brentford," Sutton cautioned. "While his numbers were excellent last season, the challenge is maintaining that level at a bigger club."

The way forward

United face crucial decisions as the season approaches:

• Invest further in a proven striker despite financial constraints
• Persist with Hojlund and hope new creative signings improve his output
• Rely on Mbeumo's versatility to cover multiple attacking roles

As Sutton concludes: "Consistency in attack has been United's biggest weakness. Players like Mbeumo who deliver 7/10 performances week in, week out could be exactly what they need to climb the table."