Manchester United look to be acting quickly in replacing Erik ten Hag as manager, with Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim speaking with the Red Devils about their new opening.
Amorim, 39, was a reported finalist for Liverpool job and also was mentioned as a long-term target of Manchester City should Pep Guardiola leave the club. Sky Sports says Man United are prepared to pay Amorim’s release clause.
Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte starred for Amorim at Sporting before moving to PSG, while Bruno Fernandes left Sporting for Manchester four months before Amorim’s appointment.
[ MORE: Ten Hag sacked | Who should Man Utd hire? ]
Last April, the Portuguese denied reports that he was set for the Anfield hot seat, saying that was not even an interview with Liverpool let alone an agreement.
Amorim earned 14 caps for Portugal during a playing career that saw him turn out for Belenenses, Benfica, Braga, and Qatari club Al-Wakrah.
He led Braga to the Portuguese League Cup in 2019-20 before moving to Sporting, where he’s twice won the league including last season and twice claimed the Portuguese League Cup.
Sporting are 9-0-0 to start this season and are 1-1-1 in the Europa League.
What formation does Ruben Amorim play?
Ruben Amorim has favored a 3-4-3 during his time at Sporting Lisbon, and it’s worked well for the 39-year-old who could be helped in implementing that plan by former star midfielder Manuel Ugarte, an expensive purchase for Manchester United this summer.
His back three have all been excellent ball movers, and 23-year-old Goncalo Inacio is the best of the bunch (Ousmane Diomande’s pretty good, too, and just 20). Who would be the odd man out in a United back three? Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt seem nailed-on starters, and with Leny Yoro still injured the Red Devils would have Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof, or even Casemiro as options.
Sporting’s front three is also excellent, as target man Viktor Gyokeres — a former Coventry City high-flyer — thrives on the playmaking of former Barca and Wolves winger Francisco Trincao and 26-year-old left winger Pedro Goncalves. He’s also an excellent creator himself.
Gyokeres is more of a volume shooter than Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, but the latter two have better passing stats.
The midfield brings the biggest questions, because Bruno Fernandes has been a central piece during his entire United career and doesn’t quite fit in a central midfield duo with Ugarte. A 3-4-3 could also keep Kobbie Mainoo on the bench if Fernandes is involved, though perhaps Fernandes could be part of a two with Marcus Rashford in a 3-4-2-1.
But move him to right wing or left wing and you’re leaving Alejandro Garnacho or Marcus Rashford out of the fray. Mason Mount would also become a winger.
How could Ruben Amorim line up this Manchester United?
Andre Onana
Victor Lindelof — Matthijs de Ligt — Lisandro Martinez
Diogo Dalot — Manuel Ugarte — Kobbie Mainoo — Noussair Mazraoui
Bruno Fernandes — Marcus Rashford
Joshua Zirkzee
