Manchester United won the Premier League Summer Series, but a new problem came to the fore during their penultimate pre-season friendly with Everton in Atlanta.
Ruben Amorim at a press conference.
Ruben Amorim has previously admitted Manuel Ugarte is not the most complete midfielder.
(Image: Getty Images for Premier League)
Manchester United have a problem in midfield that their Premier League Summer Series-clinching 2-2 draw with Everton exposed.
Manuel Ugarte was overwhelmed during the pre-season friendly draw before being substituted midway through the second half. His replacement, Casemiro, did not settle into the game any better.
Kobbie Mainoo also struggled to impact play - at least with the ball. That only changed after he was replaced by Mason Mount when Bruno Fernandes dropped back into midfield.
The latter two combined for the second goal, but Mount played more advanced than his captain. Ruben Amorim highlighted the team "struggled" with "long balls and second balls" when speaking post-match.
The solution to this may well lie at his former club, Sporting CP. Morten Hjulmand is a player the head coach has previously spoken glowingly of, especially in comparison to Ugarte for one.
Amorim, speaking previously, said: "I love Joao Palhinha and Manuel Ugarte; I ask them to forgive me, but I would say that Hjulmand is the most complete player of the three." A more complete midfielder is what United need over the final four weeks of this summer transfer window.
The respect is mutual between both, with Hjulmund speaking highly of the outgoing Amorim in November. "Ruben was one of the reasons why I came to Sporting," he acknowledged.
"When you work with Ruben, you see a clear picture.
"That was important when I joined Sporting - first to understand how he plays. How he manages the team on and off the pitch is unlike anything I have seen in my short career.
"I think Manchester [United] are in good hands with Ruben."
Having a player already accustomed to how the coach works would hand them the head-start they need with less than a fortnight of pre-season remaining. Amorim has already alluded to Hjulmand being an upgrade on Ugarte, and United should act accordingly to sign him up.
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