REPORT: Man Utd Have ‘Discussed’ Move For Teenager With £70M Release Clause

BACK Man Utd are weighing up a move for Sporting Lisbon wingback Salvador Blopa, according to reports. The Daily Mail claims that the 18-year-old has been “discussed” as a potential transfer target ahead of the January transfer window. Blopa is very inexperienced, having only made his first-team debut against Alverca in the Portuguese League Cup back in November. He made a big impression in that game, scoring a brace during a 5-1 win. Since then, he has made 5 more appearances for Sporting in all competitions. Amorim is keen to add more depth at wingback Despite flirting with a 4-3-3 system in recent weeks, it is felt that head coach Ruben Amorim would like to persevere with three at the back if he has the right personnel at his disposal. Following the home loss to ten-man Everton back in November, he bemoaned his lack of options out wide: “We need time to improve the characteristics of the team. I’ve said that over the last year. To give an example, in the last game [against Everton], we should have an Amad with the right foot to put on the other side to play against 10 men.” “It is these characteristics that, in time, we will try to get to be a better team. If we are the perfect set-up to play in this way, not yet. But like any team, we need time to put the right characteristics into every position.” Blopa would certainly fit the profile that Amorim is looking for. He is right-footed and can play off the left wing. Man Utd may have to pay a sizeable fee for Blopa The cost may put off the Red Devils from making an offer for the teenager in January. He reportedly signed a new contract recently that has an €80m (£70m) release clause. While Sporting could end up accepting a fee below that amount for Blopa, you can’t see a significant amount being shelled out on a wingback this month when other positions need to be prioritised. Want more news on Man Utd? Add Man U News as a preferred source on Google David Tully David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for the Football News Network.