Manchester United have gained a new member in their first-team squad after the transfer window has closed.
Manchester United completed somewhat of an overhaul in the summer transfer window, as Jason Wilcox finally had the opportunity to bring in players that suit Rúben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.
Mathues Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo join the squad as two attacking midfielders, with Benjamin Šeško joining the frontline and Senne Lammens coming in on Deadline Day to fight for the starting goalkeeper spot.
Several former first-team players moved on this summer, as Amorim looked to shape his squad to create a family at Old Trafford and finally rid the club of players who aren’t prepared to fight for the badge.
While Tyrell Malacia still remains at United, he could still leave the club as some windows remain open. However, Amorim will have a larger squad than he first imagined as another player has joined the first team.
Bennett joins senior squad
Rhys Bennett – a 21-year-old United youth player – spent last season on loan at Fleetwood Town; he made 35 appearances in League Two in his second loan spell away from Old Trafford.
MEN have reported that last month, an insider at United said: “Rhys has his sights set high,” with many understanding that to mean he wanted a loan move to the Championship.
However, the centre-back – who scored the first goal in the FA Youth Cup final in 2022 – has stayed at United after the transfer window closed and will now be considered a first-team player.
While Bennett will struggle for minutes in the senior squad, he could compete with fellow academy player Tyler Fredricson, who was one of many poor performers in the Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town.
Bennett’s physicality and height make him an ideal candidate for the central centre-back role, but displacing Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt will not be easy.
Could Bennett be involved this season?
Unfortunately for Bennett, the defence is arguably the strongest position in United’s squad, with over two strong options per position.
On the right of the back three, Bennett would be in competition with Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui and Tyler Fredricson, while on the left-hand side, he faces Luke Shaw, Ayden Heaven and Lisandro Martínez.
In truth, the 21-year-olds immeditate future likely lives in Travis Binnion’s under-21s side, especially considering that Jacob Devaney – a natural central midfielder – has been filling in at centre-back alongside Daniel Armer.
The only other option for Bennett would be to find a loan move to a country where the transfer windows remain open, such as Turkey or Saudi Arabia.
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