Rene Meulensteen believes Matheus Cunha’s arrival at Old Trafford could spell bad news for one of the Brazilian’s new Manchester United teammates.
United have made attacking reinforcements a number-one priority in the summer transfer window having scored only 44 Premier League goals last season.
Ruben Amorim’s side acted swiftly to wrap up a deal for Matheus Cunha, with the versatile Wolves forward joining for £62.5million.
The Red Devils are still keen for more additions and appear to be closing in on a deal to sign Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo having lodged a second bid earlier this week.
The additions of Cunha and Mbeumo – who scored 35 league goals between them last season – will enable Amorim to reshape his attacking set-up next season, especially as several high-profile names head for the exit this summer.
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But Meulensteen believes that the duo’s arrival might also make life tough for those who remain at Old Trafford next season, in particular Mason Mount who will be vying for the same spot in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 lineup.
Mount has started just 13 league games across his first two seasons at United in large part due to his consistent struggles with injury.
Getting back to full fitness towards the end of last season, the 26-year-old issued a few timely reminders of his quality, memorably notching a brace against Athletic Club in the Europa League semi-final second leg.
However, Meulensteen fears the Englishman could once again find himself on the outside looking in if Amorim wants to give his new signings a fair crack of the whip early next season.
‘We have seen glimpses of Mason Mount when he got more minutes, he showed great energy and popped up in good positions in the box which was promising,’ he told YaySweepstakes.com.
‘He has scored some really important goals for United, but the question will now be where he fits in with Matheus Cunha and maybe Bryan Mbeumo.
‘He can only play in one of those positions off the front because he isn’t going to be a striker and Cunha is not going to be on the bench. It’s going to be hard for Mount next year.’
Such potential reservations over playing time lead to tentative speculation over Mount’s immediate future at United beyond this summer.
But transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano reported that the midfielder has no intention to leave United currently and is preparing to return to pre-season under Amorim in the coming weeks.
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