Bryan Mbeumo arrived at Manchester United with huge expectations from the fanbase, after the hierarchy forked out a whopping £71m, including add-ons for his signature.
The Cameroonian has already matched those expectations in the Premier League, as seen by his tally of five goals within his first nine encounters at Old Trafford.
His latest showing against Brighton and Hove Albion was arguably his best for the Red Devils, scoring twice and leading Ruben Amorim’s men to a third successive league victory.
The 26-year-old also created two chances and completed four dribbles – with both tallies the highest of any player on the pitch from both of the starting elevens.
There’s little debate that he’s taken the responsibility of being the club’s biggest offensive threat, surpassing the levels previously set by one other first-team member.
The change of Bruno’s role & lack of impact against Brighton
For large periods of the 2024/25 campaign, Bruno Fernandes was often United’s go-to man for goals and assists – undoubtedly saving the club from an unthinkable relegation battle.
The Portuguese international ended the year on a total of 37 combined goals and assists across all competitions, a tally which was by far and away the highest of any player in the squad.
However, the attacking midfielder has been forced to drop into a slightly deeper number eight position to accommodate the likes of big-money addition, Mbeumo.
Such a decision has taken the responsibility off his shoulders, with a more all-round performances now expected from the Red Devils’ first-team captain.
His deeper position has seen a slight decline in his performance level, as seen by the latest display against Brighton at Old Trafford, with the 31-year-old enduring somewhat of a quiet afternoon.
Bruno only completed six passes into the final third against the Seagulls and only completed 50% of the dribbles he attempted – subsequently being unable to match the levels from 2024/25.
He was also dribbled past on three occasions, whilst also losing nine duels – the most of any player – showcasing the lack of positive impact he’s had in his new position.
As a result, one other player within the first-team squad has taken the responsibility of providing the goods alongside Mbeumo within the final third in recent weeks.
The United star who’s becoming Amorim’s next Bruno
Whilst it’s still early days in 2025/26, United look like a different team compared to last campaign, with Amorim deserving huge credit for the work done during the off-season.
After the first nine games of the new Premier League season, the Red Devils rank second for expected goals (xG), showcasing the threat the side now possesses in forward areas.
Amorim’s men have also registered the highest average of shots on target per 90, with such a record enabling the side to score 15 goals in the first nine matches of the new league campaign.
As previously mentioned, Mbeumo has played a key role in such success, as seen by his tally of five goals and one assist – working out at 40% of the side’s goals to date.
However, the Cameroonian international has been joined at Old Trafford by Matheus Cunha, with the Brazilian joining the Red Devils in a £62.5m deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
He also arrived with huge expectations this summer, after he registered a total of 21 combined goals and assists in the Premier League whilst being involved in a relegation battle.
The 26-year-old has partnered Mbeumo in the number ten role behind the striker, which has subsequently resulted in Bruno dropping into his deeper role over the last couple of months.
However, Cunha has taken to such a task like a duck to water, arguably replacing the Portuguese international as one of the Red Devils’ leading talismen.
He netted his first goal for the club in the recent triumph over Brighton, with such an effort getting the ball rolling for Amorim’s third league victory in a row.
Cunha, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, also produced numerous impressive figures that showcase his class within the final third.
Minutes played
81
Touches
62
Goals scored
1
Passes completed
89%
Chances created
2
Shot on target accuracy
100%
Dribbles completed
2
Chances created
2
Along with his goal, the attacking midfielder completed 89% of the passes attempted and registered two chances created for his teammates – showcasing his ability to provide for those around him.
He also placed 100% of his shots on target, whilst also completing two of his three dribbles – highlighting his incredible all-round ability within the final third.
Whilst it may be early days in his career at Old Trafford, Cunha has already captured the hearts of the fanbase and cemented himself as a key player within Amorim’s ranks.
Should he continue in such vein, there’s no reason why he can’t soften the blow of Bruno’s drop in form and lead the side to new heights in the near future.