Ruben AmorimRuben Amorim
Ruben Amorim | Manchester United via Getty Imag
Manchester United have an important summer ahead of them as they prepare for next season
Manchester United underperformed again in the 2024/25 season and will be hoping for much better next time around. Ruben Amorim was picked as their replacement for Erik ten Hag in November after catching the eye in Portugal at Sporting CP. It has since been a tough spell for the 40-year-old at Old Trafford and his side are crying out for some stability.
The Red Devils are lacking quality in their squad and could do with some new signings. They have the chance to bring in some additions this summer. The North West outfit also have the opportunity to let some players head out the exit door as well if needed.
Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes attracting interest
Bruno Fernandes is attracting strong interest from Saudi Arabia at the moment and United risk losing him. According to Sky Sports, Al-Hilal are prepared to fork out a fee in the region of £100million to try and lure him to the Middle East. It is yet to be known at this stage whether he would be interested in the move.
In the meantime, the Red Devils have been left sweating over his future. The Portugal international has been a massive player for them over recent years and is their main source of creativity. If he were to leave, he would leave a gaping hole in their team.
Fernandes, 30, moved over to England back in 2020 and has been a key player for his current club over the last five years. Prior to his transfer, he had spells with the likes of Udinese, Sampdoria and Sporting Lisbon. He has scored 98 goals in 290 games for United in all competitions to date, 19 of which came in the last campaign.
A switch to Al-Hilal would obviously have it’s financial benefits. However, he hasn’t hit veteran status yet and it would be a waste of his talent to go and play in a league that isn’t as good as the ones in Europe. The Red Devils will have their fingers crossed that he decides to stay for another 12 months at least as they look to turn their fortunes around and compete higher up the league.
Manchester United eye potential Bruno Fernandes replacement
If Fernandes did leave United, they would have to find an adequate replacement. Step forward Sporting Lisbon star Pedro Goncalves, who has been linked with Amorim’s men. The Mirror claim he is on their radar and has a price tag of approximately £70million.
Goncalves, 26, is four years younger than Fernandes and has proved himself over in Portugal. He has played for Wolves as a youngster in the past but wasn’t quite able to make the impact he would have wanted to at Molinuex as a youngster. Nevertheless, he has developed his game massively since leaving the Midlands and has become a better player.
He moved to the Estádio José Alvalade in 2020 and he has since made 190 outings, finding the net on 81 occasions. In addition, he is an assist machine and has laid on 57 goals for his teammates. He is capable of playing down the middle or from the left wing which is useful.
United have to smart with their recruitment over the next couple of months. Despite falling behind the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City over recent times, they are still an attractive team to play for and have money to spend. They haven’t signed smartly over recent times though and that is an area that the club as a whole need to improve on dramatically.
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