Ruben Amorim Manchester United Harry Kane
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Manchester United’s Europa League heartbreak in Bilbao has had consequences far beyond the pitch.
The 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur not only denied the club a major trophy, but also officially confirmed there will be no European football at Old Trafford next season.
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It’s a brutal blow that has left Ruben Amorim under intense scrutiny, with both results and performances trending in the wrong direction since his arrival.
Without Champions League qualification, United now face a financial hit in the region of £100 million.
Prize money, broadcasting revenue and sponsorship deals will all take a hit – further compounding the pressure on the club’s summer rebuild.
Plans had already been forming behind the scenes, but the loss has forced a rethink.
Red Devils draw up ‘B list’ of striker targets to replace Rasmus Hojlund
According to The Sun, United have now drawn up a revised ‘B List’ of striker targets to reflect the new financial reality.
The club’s original shortlist was split into two groups.
Group A, featuring Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko and Liam Delap, represented top-tier targets.
Gyokeres has scored 53 goals this season and is reportedly valued at £60 million by Sporting Lisbon – a club Amorim knows well.
However, missing out on the Champions League makes that move unlikely.
Sesko remains an option, but his £64 million release clause is problematic under current PSR constraints.
Delap is a far cheaper option due to his relegation clause with Ipswich Town and has already held talks with the club.
But if United can’t land any of their top three, attention will shift to the B List.
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That includes Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Lorenzo Lucca (Udinese) and Mateo Retegui (Atalanta).
Mateta has been one of the Premier League’s most improved strikers this season and could prove an ideal finisher for creative figures like Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo.
Moise Kean, though inconsistent in England previously for Everton, is more seasoned and tactically disciplined now.
Retegui and Lucca offer alternative profiles, with Lucca seen as a more raw but physically dominant presence.
Settling for a B List option may not excite fans, but it could be the smartest move.
Chasing Gyokeres or Sesko while stronger suitors are ahead in the queue might waste time and money.
United’s revised strategy only goes to emphasise the new financial and competitive reality.
Amorim will need to be decisive – and United pragmatic – to ensure this summer doesn’t end in another rebuild regret.
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