Many of Manchester United’s recent additions say there is a genuine case for each of INEOS’s summer signings to be named signings for the season at Old Trafford.
Although Matheus Cunha has taken his game up a notch in 2026, he may well be the frontrunner given the surprising and calming influence that Senne Lamence brings.
The Brazilian started the year with a goal at Elland Road and has already scored three times under manager Michael Carrick, with a string of fine finishes against Arsenal, Fulham and Aston Villa.
Despite a relatively quiet start to life in Manchester, the 26-year-old is now a key figure in Carrick’s resurgent side and the benchmark for future United signings ahead of the summer.
Man United to sign new Brazilian sensation to follow Cunha
Cunha’s £62.5m signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers has proven to be the Red Devils’ first signing of the pivotal 2025 summer season, and we hope this one will be no different.
Bruno Guimarães is the man everyone is talking about at the moment following claims that talks have taken place for the Newcastle United captain, but it remains to be seen whether the INEOS regime will actually be able to value the 28-year-old from St James’ Park.
Either way, the Magpies’ apparent interest in the star falls in line with United’s recent trend of targeting Premier League talent, be it Brian Mbeumo or the aforementioned Cunha, two men who have since hit the ground running at the Theater of Dreams.
Casemiro vs Guimarães – 25/26 PL Stats | ||
|---|---|---|
Casemiro | Statistics (*per game) | Guimaraes |
29 | game | twenty three |
28 | begins | twenty two |
7 | the goal | 9 |
2 | assist | 4 |
4 | A big opportunity has arisen | 5 |
1.0 | Key pass* | 1.7 |
81% | Pass accuracy* | 86% |
2.4 | Tackle* | 2.2 |
1.3 | Dribbling breakthrough* | 1.0 |
51% | Total number of duels won* | 50% |
A similar move is likely to be considered, with reports late last week suggesting the Old Trafford side are in a race with Arsenal to sign Bournemouth’s Ryan.
According to Brazilian outlet RTI Esporte, two Premier League rivals are monitoring the 19-year-old’s movements following his recent move from Vasco de Gama, with Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid also on the list.
But it won’t come cheap, considering the teenager has just joined the Cherries in a £30m deal. Reports suggest his long-term deal at the Vitality Stadium comes with a release clause of €100m (approximately £86m).
Manchester United could sign bigger talent than Guimarães in return for Cunha
Rayan’s substitute on the south coast, Antoine Semenyo, was a high-profile target for United in both the summer and January, with the Ghanaian ultimately opting for the Etihad during the winter period.
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However, the young Brazilian instantly caught the attention of Andoni Iraola’s side, and it is to Ryan’s credit that the Cherries were able to move on quickly from what could have been a disastrous sale.
The fleet-footed forward, who has featured in eight Premier League games so far, mirrors Cunha in that he can play centrally or on either flank, and has already scored two goals and provided one assist, most notably scoring a stunning solo goal past Lucas Digne against Aston Villa last month.
Most recently, in Friday’s 2-2 draw at Vitality, Bournemouth’s new No. 37 made things tough for Luke Shaw, scoring three shots and creating one ‘big chance’ in that dramatic late-night game.
Although he lacks the wealth of Premier League experience that Cunha enjoyed at Molineux, he is another truly exciting attacking option and United are right to monitor his development.
In fact, one could argue that Rayan may even be a better talent than his compatriot Guimarães, which has been an explosive start to his senior career, at a time when the Red Devils are looking for options in central midfield and on the flanks.
Although he is only 19 years old, he played in 99 games with his former team, scoring an astonishing 25 points in all competitions, proving his threat with his left foot.
Rayan’s rapid development since then has already earned him a call-up to Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad, ensuring he will make his first senior appearance for his country.
For comparison, Guimarães, who played 107 games for Atlético Paranaense before joining Lyon, did not make his debut with the Selecao until he was 22, highlighting why Rayan is already ahead of him in that regard.
United have already seen the talent that this young winger has and it is easy to see why he is attracting so much interest despite only having played a short period of time in English football.
INEOS have already benefited from a significant investment in Cunha, so why not do the same for the next Brazilian Premier League sensation, Rayan?
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