Manchester United transfers Q&A: What’s holding up Bryan Mbeumo deal? Which three strikers do United want? Will Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana leave? And why is the door not closed on Bruno Fernandes exit?

Manchester United’s summer transfer window is one of their most important in more than a decade – and although it is already in full swing, there is still so much to do.

Matheus Cunha has made a £62.5million move from Wolves, and manager Ruben Amorim continues to push for further attacking reinforcements to improve a team that ended a miserable Premier League campaign in 15th, the club’s worst season in 50 years.

Mail Sport are answering YOUR questions on United’s transfer plans this week and we have been inundated with them.

Here is what we know on Bryan Mbeumo, the search for a striker and the club’s plans for promising youngsters heading out on loan.

How close really is Bryan Mbeumo to United? (@erolinddd) 

Cunha was priority No 1 for United and given his release clause, plus his desire to join with or without European football, that was always going to be straightforward to get over the line.

Bryan Mbeumo is more complicated but his desire, much like Cunha, to come to United in a bid to help turn the club around is a major feather in their cap.

Bryan Mbeumo is a more complicated deal but his desire, much like Matheus Cunha, to come to United in a bid to help turn the club around is a major feather in their cap

Brentford have been less than impressed at how this pursuit has played out publicly and we are still some way off an agreement being struck between the two clubs

United know that personal teams will not be an issue with Mbeumo and so it is down to the agreement United can reach with Brentford, who want in excess of £60million

Brentford have been less than impressed at how this pursuit has played out publicly and we are still some way off an agreement being struck between the two clubs. United know personal teams will not be an issue with Mbeumo, so it is down to whether they can reach an agreement with Brentford, who want in excess of £60m.

Paying in installments is essential if United are to give themselves space to complete the many other moves they need to make this summer, and Mbeumo’s desire to join has backed Brentford into a corner.

The lack of a release clause in the 25-year-old’s contract, plus the fact his deal has a year left to run with the option of a further year, means United won’t have things all their own way during negotiations this week.

Nonetheless, Amorim wants players in pronto so they can get to work as part of his summer rebuild and with Mbeumo keen, expect this one to get over the line.

What striker options are we looking at after United target Liam Delap chose Chelsea? (@Nichol_5)

It is no secret Delap was the top name on United’s wish list for the past six months and so it came as a blow to Jason Wilcox, who was pushing hard for the striker he knew well from their time in Manchester City’s academy, to see him choose Chelsea.

Amorim has wanted a reunion with Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokores from the start, but that is not the easiest deal to complete. Arsenal are also strongly interested in the Swede, who scored 63 goals in 58 appearances for club and country this season, and Sporting would want more than £60m.

United have been offered Paris Saint-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos by intermediaries and that is one to watch as the striker market develops in the coming weeks.

Ramos, who has a World Cup hat-trick on his c.v. and was a star at Benfica, has been deemed surplus to requirements at PSG and at just 23 is in an age bracket that appeals to United’s hierarchy, who are keen to maximise young talent.

Ruben Amorim has wanted a reunion with Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokores from the start, but that is not the easiest deal to reach agreement on

Portugal striker Goncalo Ramos has a World Cup hat-trick on his CV but is out of favour at Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain

Crystal Palace Jean-Philippe Mateta, who struck twice in the Eagles’ win at Old Trafford this season, has been on United’s radar for some time

Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, who struck twice in the Eagles’ win at Old Trafford this season, has been on United’s radar for some time but is leaning towards staying at the south London club to help them in their first-ever European campaign.

Don’t read too much into reports about RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko or former Fulham man Aleksandar Mitrovic at this stage.

Is there any solid interest from other clubs in Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Rasmus Hojlund, Kobbie Mainoo or Jadon Sancho? (@saltyno10)

There was little surprise in the corridors of power at United when it emerged on Tuesday morning that Chelsea were cutting their losses on Sancho.

It has been a possibility for months now that the Blues were considering paying the £5m penalty clause for not taking up their obligation to buy – a stipulation first revealed by Mail Sport – and while there was faint hope a deal could be struck in light of Sancho’s goal in last week’s Conference League final, his reluctance to lower his wages saw Chelsea walk away.

The most likely scenario with Sancho is a return to the Bundesliga, where he shone in two spells with Borussia Dortmund, but United may struggle to secure the £25m fee they are after from a club in Germany.

United desperately need sales to generate income for the rest of their summer rebuild, but they are braced for loan offers for players they no longer want.

Rashford, who impressed initially at Aston Villa last season, is a player they are eager to sell, but sources have suggested a loan deal with an option to buy is more likely. United would want £40m to seal a permanent deal.

Antony has thrived on loan at Real Betis but they do not have the money to sign him permanently and he is another that has been mooted for a loan deal with option to buy, unless United lower their asking price of around £30-35m.

The most likely scenario with Jadon Sancho is a return to the Bundesliga, where he shone in two spells with Borussia Dortmund

Marcus Rashford, who impressed initially at Aston Villa last season, is one player they are eager to sell

Antony has thrived on loan at Real Betis but they do not have the money to sign him permanently

Bayer Leverkusen are one to watch with Antony, not just because it would be a reunion with Erik ten Hag but also because they need to replace Florian Wirtz, who appears headed for Liverpool in a Premier League-record deal.

Inter Milan want Hojlund on loan, rather than on a permanent deal, and Atletico Madrid are monitoring Garnacho but have not firmed up their interest.

Chelsea are not closing the door on Garnacho but Dortmund’s English winger Jamie Gittens is their priority for a new wide player before the Club World Cup, so that one feels unlikely despite their interest back in January.

Enquiries have been made for Kobbie Mainoo and he is not off the table, albeit low down United’s priority list of sales.

Who are United looking to offload this summer? And is a midfielder on the shopping list? (TM0rgz7)

Sales are absolutely vital to United this summer, that much is clear.

The messaging has always been that they could make moves for Cunha and Delap – the latter now a moot point – without the need for player sales. But thereafter they still want a striker, a physical midfielder, reinforcement in goal and are open to adding a centre back.

All of those will require United to make significant money through player sales, which is proving a real sticking point.

Casemiro has a year left to run on his very lucrative deal and it appears he won’t be easy to move, and the growing expectation is that United will go into the season with Andre Onana still as the main goalkeeper.

Casemiro has a year left to run on his very lucrative deal and it appears he won’t be easy to move

The growing expectation is that United will go into the season with Andre Onana still the main goalkeeper

Sealing deals for Cunha and Mbeumo is important – but the focus will soon shift onto sales because without them it becomes a far more complicated window.

Are United looking for new wing backs? (@kenshinz787141) 

Young Paraguayan Diego Leon will arrive this summer from Cerro Porteno to bolster options at left wing back, but the door remains open to strengthen further.

Mail Sport understands the plan for Leon is to start off with the youth sides and build his way up to first-team level due to his rawness.

Young Paraguayan Diego Leon will arrive this summer from Cerro Porteno to bolster options at left wing-back

Harry Amass turned down a loan move away in January and the feeling is that he is determined to stay and fight for his place alongside Patrick Dorgu

Harry Amass turned down a loan move away in January and the feeling is he is determined to stay and fight for his place alongside Patrick Dorgu, though more meetings are set to take place for a lot of academy players to assess just how much game time they would get with only one match a week next season.

Amad Diallo, Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot provide solid depth at right wing back for United and although the door isn’t closed to more, it is much lower down the priority list as part of Amorim’s summer rebuild.

Are United looking to strengthen in central midfield and who are they looking at? (@FPLMish)

In short: yes.

One of Amorim’s priorities, as outlined to his bosses, has been to make this a more physical team, in particular by adding robustness in the middle of the park.

Club sources never put much stock into reports linking them with Ederson at Atalanta, but concrete names are few and far between in this position right now which is, naturally, a frustration for fans.

Adding goals to the side has been the sole focus in recent months which was why so much effort was put into getting Cunha done so swiftly, and why Wilcox pursued Delap and now Mbeumo with such determination.

Adding goals to the side has been the sole focus in recent months which was why Wilcox pursued Delap with such vigour

One thing that is clear is that Premier League-proven talent is particularly appealing to United this summer. Palace star Adam Wharton has been admired by United ever since he left Blackburn but it is too premature to put any weight into links there.

With Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, Bruno Fernandes and Mainoo still on the books, getting the type of midfielder Amorim craves is going to depend heavily on player sales.

What’s happening with academy talents? (@ryanamaju1)

Many of the club’s promising youngsters will be evaluated for loans after the pre-season tour of the United States, but we understand Stockport and Huddersfield have already made enquiries about midfielder Jack Moorhouse.

Sekou Kone is expected to leave on a season-long loan, with Swiss side Lausanne, also owned by Ineos, at the front of that queue. Ethan Williams thrived on loan at League Two Cheltenham last season and now a League One club is being sought to further his development.

Sekou Kone is expected to leave on a season-long loan with Swiss side Lausanne

A lot of the energy and attention right now is on trying to seal a deal for 16-year-old Southampton centre back Harley Emsden-James

In terms of academy recruitment, a lot of the energy and attention is on trying to seal a deal for 16-year-old Southampton centre back Harley Emsden-James, as first revealed in our Man United Confidential column.

Le Havre’s 18-year-old forward Enzo Kana-Biyik, a France Under 18 international, is expected to finalise his move soon before heading out on loan, while a central midfielder is also a position club scouts are looking at.

Will we sell Hojlund and Onana and buy quality replacements? (@Mtud489)

It is undeniable both have had difficult seasons but neither wants to leave and both have lengthy contracts.

The feeling at United is that it is far more likely No 2 goalkeeper Altay Bayindir departs instead of Onana, who is expected to still be the club’s No 1 next season.

A limited budget means United have had to prioritise their biggest problem area which has been goals, so two new No 10s plus a striker will occupy a large portion of the budget.

United are open to offers for Rasmus Hojlund but interest in him is limited to loans with an option to buy right now

It is undeniable that both Hojlund and Onana have had particularly difficult seasons but neither wants to leave and both have lengthy contracts

United are open to offers for Hojlund but interest in him as mentioned earlier is limited to loans with an option to buy, something that doesn’t help United out on PSR.

Although there is a giddiness in the air with United’s fast start to the window, realism needs to kick in in terms of just how much they will be able to change in one summer with a £100m hole in their pocket after missing out on Europe.

Is Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton a deal that could materialise? (@ayrtonhs96)

Everton firmly rebuffed a £50m approach from United last year and the Toffees are being equally firm now when it comes to Branthwaite.

Chelsea and Tottenham are among those keen to make a pursuit, but United’s focus has shifted given the emergence of 18-year-old Ayden Heaven, who has looked a steal so far at just £1.5m.

Everton firmly rebuffed a £50m approach from United last year and the Toffees are being equally firm this time around when it comes to Jarrad Branthwaite

Centre back Ayden Heaven has looked a steal so far at just £1.5m

The departures of Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof, as well as it being too early for the likes of 17-year-old Godwill Kukonki, mean United will need to consider signing a centre back.

Factor in, too, that Harry Maguire is entering the final year of his contract, and there is an argument to be made that United need another player ready to start in that position.

But with Everton now owned by the ambitious Friedkin Group, they are armed with the belief they can resist any advances for this summer at least. That leaves me pessimistic United would even bother going back in for the England defender.

What do you think the odds for Bruno Fernandes staying or leaving are? (@thegoat67085114)

I was always sceptical about Fernandes packing his bags for Al Hilal and Saudi Arabia. And a mix of his family’s wishes, as well as his own to remain playing in a top European league, saw that chatter finally laid to rest on Tuesday.

Lest we forget Bruno Fernandes’ quotes after the Europa League final in which he said he would go if the club decided they needed to sell him for the money

Amorim has privately underlined just how vital Fernandes is to him, although some figures at the club saw the £100m floated by Saudi Arabia as an accelerator to funding their rebuild

Amorim has privately underlined just how vital Fernandes is to him, though some figures at the club felt the £100m floated by Saudi Arabia would have been a good way to fund United’s much-needed rebuild.

But it would be remiss of me to say the door is completely closed on him leaving now Al Hilal are shifting their focus elsewhere. Lest we forget the club captain’s quotes after the Europa League final in which he said he would go if the club decided they needed to sell him for the money.

While I expect Fernandes to be starting the season as Manchester United captain, consider the door ajar right now as top sides in Europe weigh up whether they can finance a move.

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