An interesting statistic has emerged which proves that two Manchester United players can form a ‘lethal’ partnership in the 2025/26 campaign.
Manchester United finally secured the signing of Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford last week in a deal worth an initial £65 million and it is a huge boost for Ruben Amorim’s squad.
Mbeumo will provide a much-needed goal threat after scoring 20 times in the Premier League last season. He has a well-rounded skillset and is set to play as the right-sided no.10.
One aspect to note about the Cameroon international is that he has managed to create brilliant partnerships with different players at the Gtech Community Stadium in recent years.
After excelling with Ollie Watkins in his first year at Brentford, Mbeumo went onto link-up superbly with Ivan Toney and Yoane Wissa in recent seasons.
United fans will be hoping that he can make similar connections at Old Trafford and statistics suggest that there is an obvious partnership which can blossom.
Interest statistics emerge which prove United duo will form partnership
With Mbeumo set to play as a no.10 alongside Matheus Cunha, it is likely that Bruno Fernandes plays most of his football in the midfield pivot in Amorim’s system.
The club captain, who cost £47 million in 2020, played in that role a lot last season and it allowed him to get onto the ball as much as possible while facing forward, which meant he could look for players running in behind.
Even though United were not blessed with many players who loved running beyond the opposition’s last line, Fernandes still led the Premier League in ‘defensive line-breaking passes’, which Opta define as completed, forward passes which break the opponent’s defensive line.
The Portuguese playmaker played 89 of those passes across the campaign, which was 18 more than second-place Bruno Guimaraes and 33 more than Trent Alexander-Arnold at third-place.
Interestingly, Mbeumo appears to be the perfect player to compliment Fernandes’ passing style and United themselves have suggested that a ‘lethal’ partnership could be made as he made more runs beyond an opposition backline than any other Premier League player last term.
The statistics say that United’s latest signing made a staggering 418 runs in behind last season, which was 11 more than Watkins and 28 more than Mohamed Salah.
Mbeumo gives United the runner they need
While the numbers can be taken with a pinch of salt as Mbeumo was in a highly transition-based side last season, it is certainly something that can be worked on at Old Trafford between the £112 million duo.
Without Marcus Rashford or Alejandro Garnacho playing for the club, United need players who are willing to make those off-ball runs, particularly when you have Fernandes in your ranks.
Mbeumo has the pace, speed and timing to make these runs but has also proven that he can make the right decision and be clinical at the end of them.
These new signings will immediately improve United’s play, but if relationships like this can be struck, then they could be even more dangerous than many expect them to be.
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