Man United have planned for the future with elements of their recruitment this season - and Ruben Amorim is understandably excited.
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Ruben Amorim celebrates on the Old Trafford touchline after a goal against Real Sociedad.
Ruben Amorim is excited about Manchester United's future.(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images.)
One of the biggest themes of Manchester United's recruitment policy since the start of last summer's transfer window has been signing players with potential.
For too long, United targeted ready-made options that had already earned their stripes as big-name stars in the hope of them making an immediate impact at Old Trafford. However, that often led to paying over the odds for players with little resale value.
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United have tried to correct that. Last summer they swooped for Leny Yoro from Lille in a deal that could rise to £58.9million. He was 18 at the time and considered as one of the most exciting defensive prospects in the world.
Joshua Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte, both 23, also came in, arriving from Bologna and Paris Saint-Germain respectively. Noussair Mazraoui was their oldest addition at the age of 26.
That theme continued in January with the signings of Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven. Dorgu, 20, arrived from Lecce, and Heaven, 18, was recruited from Arsenal and both players have quickly established themselves as starters, though Heaven's case has been aided by injuries elsewhere in defence.
Heaven himself was forced off injured against Leicester City on Sunday. United are yet to confirm the extent of the defender's issue, but everyone has their fingers crossed that it is nothing serious. He has been excellent in each of his first four outings in United colours, offering a sense of calm at the back.
"Ayden is so relaxed, he seems so relaxed that sometimes he is too relaxed," United head coach Ruben Amorim said after the 1-1 draw with Arsenal recently. "But I think we have a player there.
Ayden Heaven tries to rally the crowd during Manchester United's draw with Arsenal.
Ayden Heaven has made an accomplished start to his Manchester United career.
"So now we have to control, to tell him that it was just a game etc. etc."
Despite only making one substitute appearance during his time at Arsenal, United said at the time of Heaven's arrival that he was a first-team signing. They see a lot of potential in him and his first few performances make it easy to understand why he could become a long-term option on the left of the back-three.
On the opposite side of the back-three, United are also hopeful they have a long-term right-sided centre-back option in Yoro, who has slowly grown into the season after suffering a fractured metatarsal in pre-season that delayed his competitive debut for United until December.
Addressing Yoro's potential earlier this month, Amorim said: "I think he is going to be a top, top, top player and is going to have a great career here in Manchester. But for that, he knows that he has to prove [himself] in every match, so he is going to be ready for the next one."
Despite being signed for contrasting fees and in very different circumstances, United firmly believe both Yoro and Heaven have the potential to become mainstays in their defence for years to come. Both players have shown flashes of their credentials, making it easy to understand why Amorim is excited about their futures.