Changing the man in charge of the team was not on the agenda when Manchester United spent £180million on players in the summer, but Ruben Amorim’s arrival to replace Erik ten Hag means more signings are required to realise the new boss’s vision.
The shift in formation is significant in changing the player profile needed in certain positions, even if Amorim is able to mould some of those currently in the squad to his needs.
But January is expected to be a quiet month due to United’s strained finances, which were displayed in the first-quarter results released on Wednesday. Indeed, the club claim the ticket price rises which have provoked such anger are part of the plan to align with regulations.
In truth, a desperately poor record of trading has led United into such a precarious position, and getting that right is the big task ahead for the INEOS regime.
The ability for United to spend freely in summer is set to depend on sales, but Sir Jim Ratcliffe is a man in a hurry and that might be a factor in the business that is done.
What positions will they be looking at in 2025?
United’s squad was built with 4-2-3-1 in mind, and so while some of the players are adaptable, with Amorim backing his abilities as a coach to aid individual development, much work will be needed in the transfer market to map completely onto the 3-4-2-1.
United’s options at wing-back are the clearest area in need of adjustment. Luke Shaw was excellent in that role for England at Euro 2020 but his injury record means the club cannot rely on him as a regular starter and there is internal acknowledgement he may have to tailor his appearances even when fit. He might even be better suited to the left centre-back spot given his ability to carry the ball from deep. Tyrell Malacia is only just returning after more than 16 months out and there are no guarantees about how he will fare.
Diogo Dalot can operate on either side but, having been last season’s player of the year, his form has perhaps suffered from switching so often. Noussair Mazraoui has been an excellent buy but possibly lacks the attacking flair Amorim would want in that role and may be better suited to the back three.
Amorim has also shown a preference for picking a left-footed player at right wing-back, with Geovany Quenda and Geny Catamo operating there for Sporting. Amorim tried Antony in that role during training sessions in his first week. Amorim likes to have a balance of left- and right-footers in his squad generally, part of the reason why Godwill Kukonki, a 16-year-old left-footed defender, was included in the travelling squad at Ipswich. Even though Lisandro Martinez was missing and Kukonki didn’t make the bench United had five left-footed players in the squad.
One of those was Rasmus Hojlund, who United hope Amorim can help guide to become as prolific as Viktor Gyokeres at Sporting. But another centre-forward is expected to be on the agenda as well.
United are also likely to want to add a mobile creative player to operate in one of the deeper midfield roles.
Are there any players they are already looking at?
Gyokeres will inevitably come up in discussions given his importance in Amorim’s system at Sporting. A long-standing interest in Benjamin Sesko, who United tried to sign at the start of last summer, remains. United have also noted Liam Delap’s impact in the Premier League at Ipswich.
There are several possibilities in the wing-back role, but Quenda’s emergence this season makes him a very attractive proposition, aged just 17. United may decide to go for a more established player, however, and have been keeping track of Jeremie Frimpong at Bayer Leverkusen for several seasons.
Who will they be looking to sell?
Antony is the most obvious player United could sell to raise funds. Amorim may try to remould the Brazilian as a wing-back, and he started in that position against Bodo/Glimt, but unless he sparks a turnaround an exit appears the most likely outcome if United can find a buyer willing to pay enough money.
However, his value is drastically reduced from the hugely inflated £86million United paid to Ajax in the summer of 2022.
United looked at offloading Casemiro in the summer and are likely to explore interest again. He turns 33 in February and has a contract to 2026 with the option of an extra year.
Joshua Zirkzee’s arrival to England has not gone as hoped and, depending how he performs under Amorim, United might even look to get their money back next summer. United paid a fairly modest £36.5million to Bologna due to his release clause.
What moves have they made already?
United are building connections in Saudi Arabia to see if that market will be an option for them, but they appear to have missed the boat after the spending of summer 2023.
Clubs in Turkey provide another possibility for sales. Galatasaray, for example, were interested in a loan move for Casemiro, but the player turned the offer down.
Who will make the key decisions over the two windows?
This is one of the crucial questions as the new football structure continues to settle into place. The first window under INEOS’s influence had Ten Hag as a key figure. With Amorim named a head coach rather than a manager, that emphasis has shifted.
Sporting director Dan Ashworth would be expected to take the lead on the club’s long-term squad shaping, but chief executive Omar Berrada will be involved also given his football perspective, as seen in his role in Amorim’s appointment. Technical director Jason Wilcox has a voice, so too does interim head of recruitment Christopher Vivell. Ratcliffe wants to be kept in the loop, with Sir Dave Brailsford overseeing matters. Finding agreement will be a process.
Steve Brown, head of scouting operations, and Matt Hargreaves, director of football negotiations, help with the functionality of finding players and completing deals.
Amorim has said: “You have to work — everybody together. And, for that, we have to improve the process of recruitment. The data, the profile of the players that we want. But I have to have a strong position on that, because I am the coach and I know how we want to play.
“I think it is all together but the final word, as you can say, should be with the manager (or head coach). Not because it is your right, but because it is your responsibility. Because in the end, they will ask you about the results and, in the end, that comes through to me.”
Which players’ contracts are expiring? Who is expected to renew?
Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans, Christian Eriksen and Tom Heaton all have contracts expiring. Despite being 36, Evans continues to show his worth and Amorim’s use of an extra centre-back could mean a new deal is tabled. Despite not playing, Heaton, at 38, is seen as a valued presence. Lindelof and Eriksen would be expected to depart.
Harry Maguire and Amad also have contracts running out in 2025 but they each have an optional extra year. Talks have started on a new deal for Amad, with the club looking to keep him at the club for the long-term.
What is their PSR position? What sort of budget do they have?
In September, United reported an annual loss of £113.2m, their fifth deficit in as many years. Despite those consistent losses, United insisted they remain “committed to, and in compliance with, both the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) and UEFA’s financial fair play regulations (FFP)”.
But the initials PSR and FFP have been uttered repeatedly in the corridors of Carrington, and United are close to the line.
In the latest financial results, it was revealed United used their revolving credit facility, known by some as the company credit card, to the tune of nearly £200million in the summer — an example of how they have come to pay for transfers amid all the mismanagement of Glazer ownership.
(Top photos: Getty Images)
