On Monday, reports emerged suggesting that Manchester United had stepped up their interest in Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres.
Whether those rumours prove to be correct, only time will tell.
But the manner in which Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have started life under Ruben Amorim – two goals apiece in three matches so far – means the clamour for Manchester United to sign a new centre-forward has cooled a little.
Who would have thought that putting your players in positions where they can be most effective tends to have a pretty positive impact? Funny, that. Rasmus Hojlund’s brace fired Man United past Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League last week, the Dane receiving the sort of service he was often starved off under Erik ten Hag.
And as Rashford and Zirkzee took Everton apart at Old Trafford, the much-maligned Manchester United duo appeared to relish life in a more narrow frontline which suits both players down to the ground.
So, though the prolific Gyokeres might not be a ‘must’ after all, one position Man United do look certain to strengthen in 2025 is in the one in the centre of the park.
Ruben Amorim tipped to sign Morten Hjulmand for Manchester United
While the forwards have clearly benefited from Amorim’s arrival, the more aged members of United’s midfield options have found life a little difficult.
Particularly against Ipswich Town, 30-somethings Casemiro and Christian Eriksen spent much of that afternoon at Portman Road chasing shadows and shedding sweat.
Amorim’s gameplan feels like a young man’s system. One that requires mobility and energy. Talents like Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Mason Mount – Ruben Amorim is a huge fan of Mount – as opposed to experience.
So, with reports suggesting that Amorim could return to Sporting for Morten Hjulmand – the Portuguese champion’s captain colossus – reporter Gianluca di Marzio can certainly envisage the £69 million-rated Denmark international following Hojlund to England’s north west.
“Amorim loves Hjulmand, so he can accompany him to Manchester United,” Di Marzio, one of the most respected transfer oracles in the game, tells Tipsbladet.
“When Amorim was in dialogue with other clubs, including Liverpool [before Arne Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp], Hjulmand has been on every list of players he wants to take with him.
“He is definitely a player who will be able to follow Amorim and go to Manchester United, because Amorim really likes him.”
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
Amorim could target Sporting stars Geovany Quenda and Pedro Goncalves
A natural-born leader, Hjulmand captained Lecce in Serie A before taking the armband at Sporting following the departure of Sebastian Coates over the summer. A defensively-minded midfielder who likes to control the game through his distribution as well as destruction, Hjulmand has been likened to a young Casemiro.
He will be best known in England, meanwhile, for that 35-yard screamer against Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions’ side in a 1-1 group stage draw at Euro 2024.
Portuguese expert Sergio Krithinas, speaking to The Transfers Podcast, believes that Hjulmand is likely to be an option for Man United, alongside free-scoring playmaker Pedro ‘Pote’ Goncalves, wonderkid wing-back Geovany Quenda and silky left-footer Francisco Trincao.
“I would not be surprised if [Amorim] is interested in a player like Pedro Goncalves, for instance,” Krithinas explains. “He keeps saying the best things about Pedro Goncalves. He likes him a lot.
“I think Geovany Quenda, he is a player with a lot of potential. Geovany Quenda is the kind of player Amorim would take, I think. He would like to have him.
“And then I think about even Morten Hjulmand. I can imagine Hjulmand being a player he would like to take. Maybe Trincao, but he will probably have players like that at Manchester United.”
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/EXJgvC7