Manchester United’s interest in Porto’s players shows no signs of cooling after their scouts were once again reported as in attendance to watch Martin Anselmi’s men.
Porto were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Vitoria SC yesterday, and Portuguese newspaper O Jogo report, via Sport Witness, that United had eyes in the stands.
They were joined by talent-spotters from Brighton and Hove Albion, Southampton, Bayer Leverkusen and Bologna.
O Jogo did not give any clues as to which players were under consideration, but did indicate that the Red Devils have been regularly following Porto’s matches of late.
Earlier this month it was claimed that United have lined up a summer move for Porto striker Samu Aghehowa but the powerful number 9 didn’t make the starting XI, replacing the injured Pepê after 28 minutes.
The player scored a brace when United faced Porto in October and proved too much for Matthijs de Ligt to handle with his impressive pace and strength.
United have also been linked with midfielder Rodrigo Mora, who impressed as one of two number 10s in a 3-4-2-1 formation much like that employed by Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.
The 17-year-old has three goals and three assists from 14 league appearances. He is an exciting prospect and the Red Devils are said to be ready to battle Arsenal for his signature.
No player on the pitch won more than his six duels or made more than his two key passes, one of which created a big chance.
Porto’s goal was scored by Arsenal loanee Fabio Viera with an assist from Gonçalo Borges, and Vitoria’s late equaliser was nabbed by Úmaro Embaló.
The Portuguese market is one Amorim will know particularly well, having only recently left Lisbon for Manchester, and the club has had success with its signings from the Liga Portugal.
But the outlook is bleak for the club’s scouting department in general, which is braced for job cuts as co-owners INEOS continue to swing the axe, despite the squad being in dire need of reinforcements.
Featured image Octavio Passos via Getty Images
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Joe Ponting
Joe has spent more than half his life writing about football and all of it following United. As a child he told a doctor his name was ‘Paul Scholes’, but could never pick a pass like him no matter how much he tried.
