Manchester United forked out huge funds over the summer transfer window to try and hand Ruben Amorim the talent he needs to transform the first team squad.

The majority of his £200m spending was directed to the front line of the squad, with Bryan Mbeumo one of the additions made from fellow Premier League side Brentford.

The Cameroonian international cost a fee in the region of £71m during the off-season, undoubtedly generating huge excitement after scoring 20 league goals for the Bees last campaign.

In his first handful of outings for the Red Devils, the 26-year-old has only found the key on two separate occasions, only one of which has come in England’s top flight.

However, he was brought in to provide the goods within the final third, with one player on their books sacrificed and allowed to depart Old Trafford after the big-money transfer.

Rasmus Hojlund’s form after joining Napoli this summer

After scoring just four league goals last season, striker Rasmus Hojlund was given the green light to move on loan to Napoli with an obligation to buy this summer in an attempt to get his career back on track.

The Dane was once seen as United’s saviour in attacking areas, just like Mbeumo is this summer, but his £72m transfer was ultimately a failed one, with the 22-year-old unable to produce the goods.

However, since moving to Naples, the youngster has made an immediate impact under Antonio Conte, scoring on his debut for the club in the meeting with Fiorentina.

Hojlund has since impressed further, this time in the Champions League, scoring twice against Sporting CP on Wednesday night, subsequently securing their first European win of the campaign.

It’s early days in his latest stint in Italy, but the centre-forward has already hit the ground running, averaging a goal every 128 minutes for the defending Serie A champions.

Should he continue such form, there’s no doubt the Red Devils will regret sanctioning his exit, just as they’re currently experiencing with another former talent who is thriving in front of goal.

The former United star who’s outperforming Mbeumo

Given the nature of the change for Mbeumo, he will certainly need time to adapt to Amorim’s system, especially given he’s operating in a rather unfamiliar role.

The 26-year-old mainly featured in a wide right role in a 4-3-3 system under Thomas Frank last year, but has been utilised in a central position in a 3-4-2-1 formation at Old Trafford.

An ounce of leniency should be directed to the Cameroonian despite his lack of impact to date, with real hope that he can hit the ground running in the months ahead.

However, the price tag will have no doubt ramped up the pressure on the attacker to deliver, especially after numerous players before him tried and failed to fill the void.

One of whom was Danny Welbeck, with the academy graduate rising through the youth ranks before making a name for himself in the first-team squad at Old Trafford.

He spent seven years at the Theatre of Dreams at senior level between 2007 and 2014, racking up 142 appearances for the first-team and finding the back of the net on 29 occasions.

The now 34-year-old was undoubtedly sold prematurely, joining Arsenal in a £16m deal in the summer of 2014 – even netting against the Red Devils in one of his visits back to Old Trafford with the Gunners.

11 years on from his departure from his boyhood club, Welbeck is now plying his trade for fellow Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion, subsequently racking up over 150 appearances in the last five years.

Last campaign was his best-ever in the Premier League, netting ten goals and reaching double figures for the first time as Fabian Hurzeler’s side ended the year just outside the European places.

Games played

6

Goals scored

2

Shots taken

2.3

Pass accuracy

78%

Dribble success

50%

Touches in opposition box

5.2

Shots on target

1.1

Chances created

0.8

The forward, who’s been dubbed “incredible” by journalist Ryan Adsett, has already registered two goals and one assist in all competitions – subsequently posting a higher tally than Mbeumo (2) to date.

He netted a double off the substitutes bench against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this weekend, further highlighting his ability to find the net in key moments despite entering the final years of his professional career.

Given his goalscoring record and ability to outperform United’s big-money signing, there’s no denying that the hierarchy made a mistake in approving his departure from the club over a decade ago.

He may not be the most glamorous of strikers, but it’s clear he has a nouse for the back of the net – something which the first team has greatly lacked over the last couple of years.