United eyeing 25-yo Uruguayan speedster to address problem position, Amorim knows him well – report

Manchester United have endured a topsy-turvy season so far. The Red Devils invested heavily in the attack this summer, and also strengthened the goalkeeping department. Ruben Amorim removed the deadwood from his squad and added players who suited his vision. The team has improved significantly, winning seven of their 15 Premier League games so far. For context, United managed seven wins in 27 games in the league under Amorim last season, and finished the campaign in 15th place in the table. Meanwhile, if the Red Devils win their game against Bournemouth on Monday, 15 November, they will climb to fifth in the league table after 16 games, tied on points with fourth-placed Chelsea. While the recent run has been promising, INEOS are already preparing for the future and are laying down squad reinforcement plans for 2026. A new left wing-back on the agenda As things stand, the midfield looks like the weak link in Amorim’s set-up, and United have subsequently been linked with several candidates for the job. However, the left wing-back position has also been a cause for concern of late, especially since Patrick Dorgu has endured a difficult campaign so far. The Red Devils invested a small fortune in the Dane in January this year, but he is yet to live up to expectations. The Premier League giants are now a little light in the position, with Diogo Dalot failing to make an impact either. A recent report relayed by The Peoples Person, meanwhile, states that Real Madrid are eyeing the Portuguese full back. The situation has prompted Amorim to turn to the market, and it appears that he is ready to raid his former club to address the position. United want Maxi Araujo According to TEAMtalk, United have set their sights on Sporting left-back Maxi Araujo. “United have been linked with moves for a host of players from Sporting, largely due to the Amorim connection, but we understand they do hold genuine interest in Maxi Araujo. “The Red Devils’ scouting department has been watching the 25-year-old regularly in the past 12 months. Araujo plays most of his football as a left-back, but can play as a winger.” “The belief is that the 26-time capped Uruguayan international would be a perfect fit for Amorim’s system at United. Araujo is a player Amorim worked with previously at Sporting, and we are told the manager would be more than open to signing him.” The report adds that Amorim’s preference is to sign an attacking full-back rather than a defensive one. Araujo is one of four players on the Portuguese head coach’s wish list. “We can also reveal that in recent weeks, the Red Devils have been checking on Benfica’s Samuel Dahl, Lorient’s Arsene Kouassi and Club Brugge’s Joaquin Seys.” Araujo has registered three goals and one assist in 18 games in all competitions this season. Maxi Araujo Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Liga Portugal112131746′ UEFA Champions League61-2-512′ Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira1—-73′ Total1831511,331′ Source: Transfermarkt.The 25 year old is under contract at the Estadio Jose Alvalade until 2029, so prising him away will not be an easy affair. Final Thoughts Araujo was brought to Sporting in the summer of 2024 by Amorim, and featured 12 times under the Portuguese before his departure at the end of October. The Uruguayan is a player who the United head coach knows well, so he could hit the ground running with a move to Old Trafford. Meanwhile, Dorgu is still only 21 years old, so he is hardly the finished article. Araujo’s arrival, as such, could also aid in the Dane’s development, and enable him to realise his potential. Featured image Carlos Rodrigues via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.