Manchester United are keen to reinforce the attack this summer with Ruben Amorim currently having limited options.
It is shaping up to be a very busy summer transfer window.
Manchester United have several positions which need to be strengthened this summer in order to turn the squad into something Ruben Amorim can work with.
In order to facilitate the several rumoured arrivals, United could see at least 10 players leave this summer, some of which are already expected with sales of Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho all expected to bring in funds.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe outlined United will have a transfer budget this summer, but these sales will only supplement the value of it. Ineos have already proven to be experts in the transfer market with some very smart deals such as Patrick Dorgu, Ayden Heaven, Chido Obi and Noussair Mazraoui all being bargains.
Now, it appears one United target is a player Amorim knows very well.
Photo by Bruno de Carvalho/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Photo by Bruno de Carvalho/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Barcelona failed to utilise buy-back option for Francisco Trincao
Since the arrival of Amorim, there has been an underlying interest from United in signing Francisco Trincao. The winger was a favourite of Amorim’s at Sporting CP, who are keen to avoid him leaving.
Ineos won’t be alone in their interest, but Amorim will give the Red Devils an ace card. Trincao was formerly of Barcelona, who sold him to Sporting for around £8.3m in total.
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According to the Portuguese outlet Record, Barcelona initially had a buy-back option to re-sign Trincao, but this has since expired.
The La Liga giants could have triggered the option worth £16m in 2022/23 or £21m in 2023/24 but didn’t use either of these opportunities. Now, their option has expired with June 2024, the final chance they had.
This will be a boost for United, as they will be on equal footing to any other interested clubs in Trincao this summer.
United will likely have to spend £30m to sign Trincao this summer, with Sporting setting that figure as their demand. It makes so much sense to complete this move.
Francisco Trincao would be Ruben Amorim’s dream signing
United’s possible move to sign Geovany Quenda is off the table, while Viktor Gyokeres could be out of reach unless Champions League football is secured.
So, if United are to sign one of Amorim’s former players, Trincao looks like the only option. The two have a good relationship from Sporting, with one coach claiming Amorim believed in Trincao when nobody else would, which he is bound to remember.
Trincao has all the qualities that Amorim is looking for in a No.10, with this season being his best yet for Sporting and also Portugal.
The 25-year-old has scored nine and assisted 15 this season for Sporting. He has eight goals and 11 assists in the league, ranking him in the 100th percentile for both among his peers.
Trincao stats in Liga Portugal 2024/25
Stat # Percentile
Chances created 57 100th percentile
Successful crosses 18 89th percentile
Successful dribbles 62 100th percentile
Fouls won 43 92nd percentile
Tackles won 28 98th percentile
Duels won 153 98th percentile
Recoveries 76 85th percentile
Possession won in final third 23 100th percentile
His stats in the Portuguese league are phenomenal, and he stands out clearly as one of the league’s very best.
Trincao could be transformational for United and costing less than a third of the £100m Tyler Dibling asking price; it seems to be a no-brainer of a deal.