Man Utd want to sign players with Premier League experience in the summer window.
Ruben Amorim knew Champions League qualification would not be a magic wand solution for his Manchester United squad. He also knew Europa League victory would not have redeemed an insulting domestic season. It certainly would have helped his case though.
It will be another summer of uncertainty at Old Trafford, another summer in which another squad rebuild is required. Star players will need to be sold to raise transfer revenues and the right talent will need to be recruited to address their problems both on and off the pitch.
A year after United backed Erik ten Hag with £200 million, only to sack him a few months into the new season, it would be the ultimate embarrassment if they did so again. It is a summer where United must be united. The indication is Amorim will remain in his role, he needs buy-in from everyone at the club if they are to have any chance to make it work.
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Manchester United target Premier League experience this summer
Manchester United have looked to learn from previous mistakes and buy players for the club rather than the coach. That is a difficult task to achieve this summer when Ruben Amorim plays such a distinctive style of play that could quickly change if they appointed someone else.
It puts United in a tricky position as they look to give the Portuguese coach the best opportunity of success, but also enough room to adapt, should yet another managerial change be required. Amorim knows United most start the next season 'perfect' and failure to see enough progress could result in him losing his job.
There is one are they are aligned on though, Premier League experience. There is a desire to target homegrown young talent, with a preference for those who already played in the English top-flight and will have fewer issues adapting. United are also looking to become more savvy with their spending and are hope to save money by targeting players who are already in the final year of their contract, or who are soon to become free agents.
The other factor is release clauses. United have been dragged into prolonged and protracted transfer talks in the past and like the idea of paying a set figure for a player to avoid an unnecessary delays in getting a deal completed. It is easy to see why deals for Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap appeal so much to the club.
Another key reason United need Premier League experience this summer is the simple matter that the competition will be their sole focus next season. They have played well against European opposition under Amorim, but their downfall has been abysmal domestic form, which in many ways made Tottenham the worst possible opponents to face in the Europa League final. The weekend clash with Aston Villa will be their 60th competitive match of a gruelling campaign, next season they could play as few as 40 matches in total, if they exit both domestic cup competitions at the first hurdle.
It is understood Sir Jim Ratcliffe has targeted a top six finish in the Premier League next season and Amorim will be primarily judged on how close he comes to that, more so than the style of football his team plays. To give themselves the best chance of doing so, they need hungry players who won't be fazed by the physicality and intensity of the English top-flight. They need players who have already proven themselves capable of it.
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