New Red Devils manager Ruben Amorim has started work at Old Trafford after completing his switch from Sporting Lisbon – but which Manchester United players are likely to be on the Portuguese coach’s radar when the transfer window reopens in January?
A New Era At Old Trafford – Will Amorim Target Any New Manchester United Players?
As Amorim begins to work with the current crop of Manchester United players, he will start to understand where his side needs to strengthen to make the Red Devils a football force once again.
As always when a new manager arrives at the club, particularly the size of one like Manchester United, a large crop of players get linked with a future move to help the new manager in terms of their rebuilding process.
Predictably, there has been plenty of focus on the Sporting players that Amorim may be looking to poach to get the band together – much like former boss Erik ten Hag did with a number of his Ajax alumni.
But the list of players linked with a move to Old Trafford also includes some big names in the world of football, some rather left-field choices and some names that few will have heard of until now.
Here, SportsCasting has listed the players that have been linked with Manchester United since the arrival of Amorim and have given our verdict as to how likely they are to make the switch to Old Trafford.
The Manchester United Players Linked To Join Ruben Amorim At Manchester United
Victor Gyokeres (Sporting)
Victor Gyokeres is the first player that springs to the mind of many Manchester United fans when Ruben Amorim was announced.
A move for the Swede is something which can be justified by his staggering 23 goals in 18 games across all competitions this season.
His comments that he wants to ‘finish the season at Sporting’ almost certainly rules out a move in the January transfer window and while United could come in for him in the summer, they could by then face competition from other European giants.
The Swedish striker has a massive release clause of €100 million (£83.2m) which could also prove problematic.
Likelihood rating – 6/10
Geovany Quenda (Sporting)
At 17 years old, the Portuguese winger is one of the brightest prospects in European football and was already a regular under Ruben Amorim at Sporting during the opening months of this campaign.
Reports have suggested that Manchester United are plotting a move but unfortunately for the Red Devils, the winger has a release clause of around £83.3m which would be an astronomical fee for a player who is yet to complete a full season in senior football.
It is a lot of money to spend for a team who want to be competing as soon as possible rather than a couple of years down the road.
Likelihood rating – 3/10
Goncalo Inacio (Sporting)
An incredibly talented centre-back who looks destined for a bigger move, with Manchester United and rivals Liverpool linked with the signing of the 23-year-old who has a £50m release clause.
While the release clause is certainly more obtainable than that of the two Sporting players mentioned before him, United already look well stocked in defence with Matthijs De Ligt, Lisandro Martinez and Leny Yoro available to the new coach, and another defender on this list appears to be the more likely option.
Likelihood rating – 3/10
Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton)
Jarrad Branthwaite was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford in the summer, and one you could see the Red Devils moving in for again, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe believed to be a keen admirer.
United agreed personal terms in the summer with Branthwaite though Everton’s £70m asking price proved to be an obstacle.
Toffees boss Sean Dyche has admitted that an exit could happen if an attractive bid comes in.
But any move will depend on whether United can persuade the Toffees to sell Branthwaite for a price they see more fitting.
Likelihood rating – 7/10
Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)
The speedy Canadian full-back looks destined to leave Bayern Munich next summer when his contract expires and both Manchester United and Real Madrid are in the race to sign him.
Alphonso Davies’ agent shut down reports that the star had already agreed a move to Real Madrid next summer, with Spanish publication AS Sport suggesting that it’s ‘mainly Manchester United’ who are ‘bidding hard’ for Davies.
Likelihood rating – 5/10
Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich)
The former Manchester City winger is another Bayern Munich player whose contract expires in the summer and Amorim’s Manchester United and Arsenal could reportedly battle it out for his signature.
Given his past at United’s local city rivals, it would be a surprise if the 28-year-old decided to make the controversial move to Old Trafford.
Likelihood rating – 2/10
Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
Extremely unlikely. Jamal Musiala is one of the hottest prospects in world football at present and is a hugely important player for a side that are in the Champions League and at the top of the Bundesliga.
United fans would love to be in the race for the 21-year-old who could be one of the top handful of players in the world over the next decade, but they are currently a long way from being on the radar for a player like Musiala.
Likelihood rating – 1/10
Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
Reports this week have suggested that Amorim and Manchester United could offer Napoli their summer signing Joshua Zirkzee and get the Nigerian striker – currently on loan at Galatasaray – in return.
That move though looks to be extremely unlikely for the January transfer window and Victor Osimhen will be a free agent next summer meaning he will likely have a wide array of clubs to pick from.
Likelihood rating – 4/10
Sverre Nypan (Rosenborg)
The highly rated 17-year-old is a likely first signing for two reasons: he’s not going to cost a lot – reportedly around £10m – and the Norwegian season is about to finish which would ease his path to Old Trafford in the January transfer window.
He plays in central midfield where Ruben Amorim will definitely need reinforcements and with bigger names harder to sign in January compared to the summer, Nypan could be an ideal winter signing – even if he is more of a player for the future rather than the present.
Likelihood rating – 8/10
Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth)
An attacking left-back who has impressed at the Cherries so far this season with Liverpool also believed to be in the race for the Hungarian.
Arne Slot is believed to be keen on a left-back to replace Kostas Tsimikas and Andrew Robertson, and it would appear a move to the Reds might appear more likely – especially to link up with his international team-mate Dominik Szoboszlai.
However, Milos Kerkez is a player that would suit Ruben Amorim’s desired style of play and a move to Old Trafford could still prove tempting.
Likelihood rating – 5/10
Andreas Christensen (Barcelona)
Not the most exciting choice of defender for Manchester United fans but the 28-year-old is an experienced hand and with his contract expiring in 2026, he would be a cheaper option than the likes of Branthwaite or Inacio.
Christensen has played plenty of football as part of a back three from his past at Chelsea – a formation that Ruben Amorim has appeared to prefer during his managerial career.
Likelihood rating – 4/10
Other Manchester United Players Linked With Amorim
There are a number of other players who have been linked with the Red Devils since the arrival of Ruben Amorim, who like Musiala earlier in this piece, appear to be more unlikely options.
Karl Hein, a 22-year-old goalkeeper on loan at Real Valladolid from Arsenal, has been compared to David de Gea and described as someone who Amorim ‘really wants’ to sign according to Fichajes. (2/10)
Though it’s unlikely the Gunners will want to sell their highly talented young goalkeeper to one of their biggest rivals.
Flamengo’s attacking midfielder Lorran is a player few will have heard of – unless you have seen his ‘best skills and goals’ videos on social media over recent months, though he would appear to be a risky signing at his £50m release clause for someone who is relatively unproven. (2/10)
Juventus defender Danilo is now 33 years old and appears to be on the downward trajectory in his career with just three Serie A starts from 11 this season despite being their captain. (1/10)
United have also been linked with Chelsea duo Christopher Nkunku (1/10) and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. (1/10)
It would be a risky decision on Chelsea’s behalf to sell Nkunku to one of their biggest rivals, while Dewsbury-Hall seemed a baffling move for the Blues, and it would be even more baffling if Amorim also wanted to make a move for the former Leicester midfielder.
Full List Of Players Linked To Join Ruben Amorim At Old Trafford – Plus Their Rating On Joining
- Sverre Nypan (Rosenborg) – 8/10
- Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton) – 7/10
- Victor Gyokeres (Sporting) – 6/10
- Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) – 5/10
- Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth) – 5/10
- Victor Osimhen (Napoli) – 4/10
- Andreas Christensen (Barcelona) – 4/10
- Geovany Quenda (Sporting) – 3/10
- Goncalo Inacio (Sporting) – 3/10
- Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich) – 2/10
- Karl Hein (Arsenal) – 2/10
- Lorran (Flamengo) – 2/10
- Danilo (Juventus) – 1/10
- Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich) – 1/10
- Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea) – 1/10
- Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 1/10
