Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim wants more intensity in the middle of the park and he is far from happy with the options at his disposal.
He has already informed the hierarchy about how haphazard the recruitment has been in the recent past with the Portuguese tactician not happy with having two 33-year-old midfielders.
Christian Eriksen is unlikely to be offered a new deal while despite Casemiro’s stance of seeing out his contract, INEOS want to get rid in the summer.
Mason Mount’s injury problems show no signs of abating which is why Amorim has been forced to play Bruno Fernandes alongside Manuel Ugarte even though the club captain prefers to play in an advanced role.
Amorim demands more legs in midfield
Kobbie Mainoo’s injury has come at the worst possible time but the former Sporting boss feels the England international is more suited to playing as an attacking midfielder as he does not possess the legs to play as a defensive midfielder.
United have two midfielders in mind to add more legs and steel to the midfield with Givemesport claiming the Red Devils are keeping an eye on Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad and Angelo Stiller of VfB Stuttgart.
The Spaniard has been a long-term target and plenty of other Premier League outfits are also chasing his signature. Amorim can take a closer look at him when his side take on the Basque outfit in the Europa League Round of 16.
The German is a new name added to the list and he is only 23 and would cost less than Zubimendi. The 23-year-old has excelled since leaving Bayern Munich and has even broken into to the German national team set-up.
“Manuel Ugarte is establishing himself as a key performer for Ruben Amorim – but United’s midfield still needs more legs according to training ground insiders. While Casemiro and Christian Eriksen have been used in midfield, Amorim accepts they don’t provide the dynamic energy required.
Two targets identified
“And there are reservations that Kobbie Mainoo hasn’t got the pace or stamina to cover the ground as a defensive midfielder and is better further forward in a more attacking role.
“United will get a good look at one of those targets – Martin Zubimendi – when they meet Real Sociedad next week in the Europa League last 16.
“Zubimendi, valued at £55 million, turned down Liverpool to stay at Sociedad last summer but is expected to move at the end of the season. So too is Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller, 23, with the German midfielder likely to move for around £35 million.”
Both profiles fit Amorim’s system but whether INEOS can afford such an outlay when they also need a striker and another wingback remains to be seen.
Which is why links with former United prodigy Angel Gomes, who is available on a free, are increasing by the day.
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
