Sporting CP defender emerges as Manchester United target amid Premier League links

Ruben Amorim is keen on signing more than some of Sporting CP’s attacking players as he looks to strengthen his Manchester United side.

If you believe what is being reported, United already hold an interest in Viktor Gyokeres and Geovany Quenda, who starred under Amorim this season.

There’s another name to keep an eye out for – Ivorian centre-back Ousmane Diomande, as per Caught Offside.

The report claims a January move won’t happen due to Amorim’s promise to Sporting fans that he won’t sign any of their plays midway through the season.

Diomande is also said to be of interest to Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City, although many believe the fact he already has a relationship with Amorim bodes well for United.

United will have new targets come the end of the season and Amorim will need time to assess his squad. He’s not going to go back to Lisbon and buy the entire squad he worked with there because that is unrealistic. We also fell through familiar cracks with Erik ten Hag signing only players he worked with previously.

Amorim won’t be blamed for bad recruitment like previous managers

You can blame the agencies involved, the football club allowing it to happen, the lack of a proper structure, or all of it together.

This feels like anew chapter under Amorim with INEOS taking control of football operations. It bodes well for the future but I wouldn’t get overly excited about any transfer targets just yet because a lot of those decisions will be made in due course.

In his first game as manager on Sunday evening, United drew 1-1 with Ipswich Town in a game many expected us to win comfortably.

United made defensive additions in the summer, but we’ve yet to see Leny Yoro get a run in the team after sustaining an injury blow during mid-season.

The young French centre-back will return soon but it will be Amorim tasked with finding the best solution for his defence. Yoro’s pace would be a real benefit in a back three.