(3-4-3) Nico Williams and Araujo deal”, Dream Manchester United line up next season once Victor Gyokeres deal is completed
(3-4-3) Nico Williams and Araujo deal”, Dream Manchester United line up next season once Victor Gyokeres deal is completed
Manchester United face a huge summer if their decision to appoint Ruben Amorim is to work out. The Portuguese coach has arrived and endured a horror few months – taking the team backwards.
The former Sporting Lisbon boss arrived with a huge reputation after winning silverware in his homeland, but made it known that he would waste no time in implementing his philosophy. A request to arrive in the summer was rejected and the teething problems have been particularly apparent.
Amorim’s 3-4-3 system requires specific players to truly be effective and, so far, it has been anything but. He doesn’t have the players to do what he wants and, as the season has gone on, United’s latest summer of recruitment has again aged poorly.
The millions spent have done little to improve the squad with problem areas still particularly apparent. Goals are an issue and none of the strikers the club have signed recently – Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee – seem to be fancied by Amorim.
The head coach will also need wing-backs capable of covering huge ground and who can contribute in the defensive and the attacking thirds. His additions won’t come cheap but United are in dire need of a reshuffle as they prepare to post their worst ever Premier League season.
Bruno Fernandes has stepped up in recent months, often carrying the team. Kobbie Mainoo remains a player for the long-term, even if Amorim has been vocal about his flaws. Leny Yoro and Harry Maguire have both shown they can contribute in Manchester.
Bolstering the frontline
Marcus Rashford is a man who faces an uncertain future and there is now talk of United allowing him to remain at Aston Villa, but looking for Ollie Watkins in return. Rashford has managed to dislodge Watkins at Villa Park and has looked back to his best. He didn’t show that form in Manchester and Amorim may eye his team-mate, who is more of a central frontman.
Watkins’ numbers also make for pleasant reading. Amorim could rely on Viktor Gyokeres to supply the goals at Sporting and, in his last two full seasons, the Villa man has come up with 43 goals and would no doubt improve United’s forward line.
Another player who may do so, but would represent a long-term investment, is Southampton’s Tyler Dibling. The 19-year-old has impressed despite the Saints’ poor campaign. If they do have to lose him though they want to be handsomely compensated amid reports they will demand £100million. That could prove beyond United, but negotiating them down remains a strong possibility.
Wing-back and defensive issues
The likes of Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui have tried to deputise as wing-backs, despite naturally being full-backs, but they’ve not quite cut the mustard. Landing the right player will be key – as is keeping them fit. United need to decide how long they persevere with Luke Shaw. Quality-wise there is no doubt he could excel as a wing-backs, its just how often he can get himself on the pitch
Sporting star Geovany Quenda was tipped as a potential signing given his history with Amorim, but Chelsea have swooped in and secure his signature for next season, leaving United to pursue other targets.
Jeremie Frimpong is a player who’s attracted notable attention after playing a key role in Bayer Leverkusen’s success. Once of Manchester City, his energy levels make him a perfect wing-back and the German club are resigned to losing some of their top players
Quenda might be a former player who Amorim missed out on – but Goncalo Inacio could still be captured. The young centre-half has begun showing promise and, with his inside knowledge, the United boss may see the 23-year-old as a shrewd signing. Experience is not a red flag either with the defender playing more than 200 games already.
Noises continues to swirl over Andre Onana, who hasn’t yet been at the club for two years. He was recently dropped after more errors, but the issue for United is just where do they spend their money given the amount of surgery their squad needs. Onana has made Champions League finals in the past and Amorim may see him as a player he can revive, rather than move on.
Man Utd’s potential line-up: Onana; Maguire, Yoro, Inacio; Shaw, Ugarte, Mainoo, Frimpong; Fernandes, Watkins, Dibling.
