Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim during a press conference at Carrington Training Ground.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim during a press conference at Carrington Training Ground. (Image: Simon Peach/PA Wire.)
Manchester United need to produce a transfer window like no other in the summer and if Ruben Amorim is forced to work with a below-par squad of players, it's difficult to see where any improvement comes from.
United are currently 13th in the league and are on course to record their worst-ever finish in the top flight. Unlike the other teams sulking in mid-table, apart from Tottenham, Amorim's men still have something to play for.
A place in next season's Champions League is still up for grabs via the Europa League and United are one of the favourites to win the competition. Should they fail to do so, their fortunes next season could be a difficult watch.
No matter what happens for the remainder of the current season, it's clear that United require open heart surgery to repair the current squad. At least ten players could depart over pre-season with funds needing to be raised to bring in the right profile.
At least five players are needed to simply replace the players expected to leave United. The overhaul needed at Carrington will be no easy task and is something Amorim has admitted won't be an easy fix.
"To tell you the truth, I feel sometimes there are scars in our team, in our players," he told Sky Sports. "They are good players, but they [scars] are so deep, they are so long here that it is hard to change things in one moment.
"Some players had one coach and then comes a new coach, new hope, new momentum and then we go to the same place. Imagine this for any person, in any job.
"Imagine this as a player, with all the media and social media. So it's really hard to turn things around just like that.”
Amorim and United are expected to target players that fit the Portuguese's 3-4-3 system. However, there is a detail in Amorim's contract that may prove to be a problem in negotiations.
Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres
Viktor Gyokeres made his name in the Championship before exploding to European prominence (Image: Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
Convincing key targets will come down to how United can persuade them to join Amorim's project. But the problem with that is that Amorim will have just two years left on his deal at Old Trafford, which is hardly 'long-term'.
The former Sporting CP boss signed a two-and-a-half year deal in November. Erik ten Hag was handed a three-year deal, signing an extension in the summer, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer received the same in 2019.
In the grand scheme of things, it means very little. But, it does hint of the club's long-term thinking on Amorim's era at the club and if the Portuguese is tasked with bringing his own players to the club, similar to Ten Hag in 2022, he may struggle to get his first-choice targets without the assurance that he will be at the club for the long-term future.
Get United transfer news and updates on WhatsApp!
Our team of Manchester United experts are on top of all the goings-on at Old Trafford for this week and beyond, and you can get the latest team news, injury updates, reaction and analysis along with inside information to your phone by joining our new free WhatsApp community. You can also join the 50,000 (and growing!) band of United fans who are following our WhatsApp Channel.
Sign up to our community here, and join our WhatsApp channel here.
--
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don't miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.