Update: Manchester United planning three sales to fund Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap transfers News

Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap are Man United’s prime targets to sharpen an impotent attack that is barely averaging a goal per game.

Manchester United are planning for three attacking sales to fund their intended moves for Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap.

United have identified Cunha and Delap as their prime targets to sharpen a blunt attack that has managed a paltry 38 goals in 33 Premier League games this season that has left them with a -8 goal difference.

Cunha’s representatives have welcomed United’s interest in the 25-year-old and he could double his £90,000-a-week salary. Delap, 22, is aligned with United’s preferred recruitment strategy of younger talents.

Ipswich Town’s imminent relegation will trigger a £30million release clause in Delap’s deal and Cunha also has a release clause of £62.5m in the deal he agreed with Wolves in January.

United moved for Joshua Zirkzee last year chiefly because he had a release clause and his £36.5m fee could be paid in instalments over three years.

Under the guidance of new chief executive Omar Berrada, United refused to pay more than £60m for any of their five signings last summer.

The probable £92.5m cost of Cunha and Delap would be offset by the planned sales of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony, all currently on loan.

Aston Villa have an option to make Rashford’s move permanent for £40m, Chelsea are obliged to buy Sancho for between £20m and £25m while Antony’s value has risen amid his fine form for Real Betis.

United would require £32.52m for Antony to avoid a loss under the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules. United bought the Brazilian for an initial £81.3m on a five-year contract in 2022.

There has been speculation that Chelsea could pay a penalty fee to avoid buying Sancho, who has underwhelmed for the London club. Sancho, 25, is out of contract at United next year and this summer is their last realistic chance to sell the winger.

Rashford, 27, is tied to United until 2028 and the MEN reported last week that a source close to the winger says he has “never been happier” away from United at Villa.

United head coach Ruben Amorim expressed admiration for Cunha on the eve of United’s 1-0 defeat to Wolves last week. Cunha is already operating as one of the two playmakers in the 3-4-2-1 formation that Amorim is wedded to for Wolves under Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira.

Amorim wants a specialist playmaker to occupy one of the roles behind the striker as Bruno Fernandes could switch to central midfield permanently next season. Amad, who excelled as one of the two No.10s, has been sidelined for more than two months with an ankle injury.

Cunha’s disciplinary record could be a possible deterrent for other interested clubs. He has been suspended for a combined six matches this season following a full-time scuffle with an Ipswich security guard and a red card at Bournemouth.

The Brazil international outlined his intention to leave Wolves in an interview last month and later uploaded an Instagram story with the caption, “Time to be happy. I will follow my dreams and yours… So stay cool.” Cunha quickly deleted the post.