In 2026, I’m still not over how quickly the Ruben Amorim era at Manchester United became a pressure cooker. When he arrived in November 2024, I bought the excuse that he had inherited a squad low on confidence, short on his own signings, and only half-coached in his tactical ideas. By the end of 2024/25, that excuse still had legs. But after a summer of heavy spending on Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, the leash got shorter. The attack was rebuilt. The pre-season was finally his. And yet the early results in 2025/26 were rough: a loss to Arsenal, a draw with Fulham, and that Carabao Cup exit to Grimsby Town that made Old Trafford hold its breath. Pressure has a way of parking itself in the manager’s chair, doesn’t it?

Honestly, the Cunha injury in the Burnley match is the kind of twist that makes a fan groan into their coffee. United spent serious money on him, and in Amorim’s system the No.10 spots are not decorative. They are the engine room for chance creation. If Cunha misses a significant chunk of time, that hurts. It hurts the rhythm, the rotations, and the finishing. It also puts more heat on a manager who is already being asked whether he can actually turn this thing around.

Here’s the thing: United may already have the ideal replacement inside the building. Bruno Fernandes has been used deeper under Amorim, often as part of a holding double pivot, and it has felt a bit like asking a jazz musician to keep time with a metronome. Bruno can do it. He is too talented not to. But his best work comes closer to goal, where his risk-taking, late runs and through-ball instincts can actually breathe. If Cunha is absent, pushing Bruno back into the No.10 role makes sense. It gives United more attacking license, it covers some of the output they would lose, and it saves funds for the area that really needs help: defensive midfield.

Reports have connected United with midfielders such as Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton, and it is easy to see why. The club’s focus has shifted toward reinforcing the deeper midfield rather than stacking more attackers. Neither player would be cheap, either. Wharton has been reported at around £100 million, which is the sort of number that makes a fan close the laptop and stare at the wall for a minute. But the profile is tantalizing. Since joining Crystal Palace in early 2024, Wharton has grown into one of the most promising midfielders in the Premier League. He tackles well, his passing range is excellent, and being naturally left-footed gives him a different angle in build-up.

Look, I’m not saying Wharton solves everything overnight. That would be silly. But he would slot into the United first team pretty smoothly, and he could take over the deeper role that Bruno has been occupying. That would allow Bruno to return to the position where he is at his absolute best. It would also give Amorim a more natural balance in midfield, which is exactly what a coach trying to implement a clear identity needs.

As of 2026, I’m judging the project on the trend, not one chaotic week. Amorim has had the pre-season, the signings and the time. The Cunha injury is unlucky, but it is also the kind of moment that reveals whether a squad has a plan. Moving Bruno forward and investing in a midfielder like Wharton feels like the cleanest path. It protects the attack, fixes the balance and gives the manager fewer excuses. That’s the part we don’t know yet: whether United will actually take it. 😅