Ruben Amorim could return to his former side to bring in reinforcements for his Manchester United squad in January.
After being appointed as Manchester United head coach, Ruben Amorim revealed an agreement to not sign Sporting players in his first January window out of respect for his former side.
Even when that agreement expired in the summer, none of Amorim’s five summer signings arrived from Sporting. United were interested in Viktor Gyokeres, but he instead chose to join Premier League rivals Arsenal.
During the summer’s search for a midfielder, United were linked with Morten Hjulmand, a player that Amorim brought to Lisbon.
But recent reports suggest another Sporting star is on United’s transfer radar.
Sporting Clube de Portugal v LOSC Lille - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1
Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images
£70m Sporting Lisbon ‘colossus’ is on Man United’s radar
With Harry Maguire in the final year of his contract at United, a new centre-back will be a top priority in 2026.
Goncalo Inacio has been linked to United, but it seems another Sporting defender is also attracting the attention of the recruitment team at Old Trafford.
According to GiveMeSport, Sporting’s Zeno Debast has been added to United’s transfer shortlist. He has a £70 million buyout clause in his current contract.
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United are planning to keep tabs on Debast’s performance this season as they weigh up a potential move for the 21-year-old.
The Belgian star is most comfortable at centre-back, but has also spent spells as a defensive midfielder in Portugal.
As per BreakingTheLines, Debast has become a ‘colossus’ in Sporting’s defence after he was brought to the club under Amorim in 2024.
Zeno Debast is a big admirer of Ruben Amorim
Debast only spent half a season with Amorim in Sporting before he left to become United head coach in November.
But the young defender has been outspoken about his admiration for the Portuguese coach.
Debast called Amorim a ‘fantastic’ coach ahead of his appointment at Old Trafford.
He told Mais Futebol: “Ruben is a fantastic coach. I only worked with him for three months and I would have liked him to stay, but I’m happy because he deserves it.
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“It’s like when a player plays well and then gets transferred, so he deserves it and we’re happy for him.”
Now it seems Debast could follow Amorim to Manchester in 2026…