Five Sporting stars Ruben Amorim could take to Man United | OneFootball

Ruben Amorim is set to be officially announced as the new Manchester United manager on Thursday, after an agreement was reached between the Red Devils and Sporting Lisbon.

The 39-year-old will arrive in English football regarded as one of the best young coaches in Europe, tasked with succeeding where Erik ten Hag failed at Old Trafford.

Newly appointed managers often return to their old employers for signings and while Manchester United have fresh scars from such recruitment, there’s plenty of talent within the Sporting ranks.

We’ve looked at five Sporting Lisbon players Amorim could try to bring to the Premier League.

Five Sporting stars Ruben Amorim could take to Manchester United

Viktor Gyokeres

Viktor Gyokeres is the standout name at Sporting after emerging as one of the most in-demand forwards in European football. A £17m signing from Championship side Coventry, Gyokeres has exploded in Portugal.

The Swedish striker scored 43 goals and provided 15 assists in 50 appearances last season, earning the Bola de Prata as the Primeira Liga’s top scorer and the league’s Player of the Season award. He’s picked up where he left off last season with 16 goals in 15 games, including two in three Champions League appearances.

Reports this week suggested Sporting are prepared to allow the Sweden international to move on in the summer for a fee of around €60m to €70m (£50.2m to £58.6m). Given Manchester United’s lack of goal threat, he would be an injection of quality, though big investment in Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee casts doubt on a potential deal.

United would also not be alone in their interest, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea all credited with interest in the 26-year-old.

Pedro Goncalves

Amorim’s preferred system incorporates two ‘number tens’ operating off a lone forward, with Pedro Goncalves emerging as one of the Primeira Liga’s best.

The midfielder led the league for goals in 2020/21 as Sporting won a drought-breaking league title and has been the Primeira Liga’s top assist provider in each of the last two campaigns.

The 26-year-old has 137 goals and assists in 187 appearances for the Portuguese champions and could join Bruno Fernandes in an ex-Sporting supply line. He has a release clause of €80m (£68m).

Morten Hjulmand

Morten Hjulmand has been linked with Manchester United in recent windows, following his progress since swapping Lecce for Sporting.

The Denmark international was named in the Primeira Liga Team of the Year after helping the club to the title in his debut season, before catching the eye with a stunning goal against England at Euro 2024.

His profile appears suited to the Premier League as a defensive midfielder with comfort on the ball, strong duel-winning and a solid engine.

Goncalo Inacio

Another player tracked at Manchester United long before Ruben Amorim’s imminent appointment, Goncalo Inacio is another success story of the Sporting academy.

The 23-year-old has made 184 appearances since progressing through the ranks and has earned 12 caps for Portugal at international level. An elegant left-footed centre-back, he led the Primeira Liga for touches, passes into the final third, progressive passes and progressive carrying distance during Sporting’s title success last season.

Another with a release clause, he could be available for £51m.

Marcus Edwards

Marcus Edwards chose to leave the Premier League for Portugal in 2019, impressing at Vitória S.C. before his move to Sporting in 2022. A regular provider of goals and assists from wide, Edwards has 48 goal involvements in 116 games for the Portuguese champions.

Still just 25, he could be enticed back to England for another crack at the Premier League having departed for Europe after failing to earn a chance at Tottenham. Given the uncertainty surrounding Antony’s future, Edwards could be viewed as a potential replacement.

Read – Who is Ruben Amorim? Why Man United made their move

See more – Van Nistelrooy coy on Man United future amid Amorim deal

Follow The Football Faithful on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok