Ruben Amorim declared on the Old Trafford turf, following the final day victory over Aston Villa, that the “good days are coming” for Manchester United – a statement that appeared fanciful considering the club’s 15th place Premier League finish and Europa League final heartbreak.
The Portuguese coach has talked the talk during a turbulent first six months in Manchester, but can he actually walk the walk?
What is clear is that the 40-year-old is in dire need of reinforcements if he is to make a success of it at the club, with that fact having seemingly sparked a hectic and exciting start to the window for the Red Devils.
Much to the fury of rival supporters, United have already poached Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo looking set to follow – two moves that have heightened hope regarding those future ‘good days’.
If a drastic improvement is to be made next season and beyond, however, those deals must surely be the tip of the iceberg. This is the time to rip it up and start again, following a wretched decade of recruitment.
With that in mind, here’s a look at how Amorim’s starting lineup could potentially look next season, if all goes to plan on the transfer front for newly crowned director of football, Jason Wilcox…
1
GK – Vanja Milinkovic-Savic
Whether Andre Onana could have done better or not to keep out Brennan Johnson’s deflected effort in Bilbao could be debated long into the night. What is evident is that United reached the showpiece in spite of the Cameroon stopper, not because of him.
Indeed, the 29-year-old – who has been touted for a departure this summer – made five errors leading to a goal in the Premier League and Europa League in total, having hardly inspired any confidence at all since his £47.2m switch from Inter in 2023.
Enter, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. Once on the books at United as a teenager, before swiftly departing after failing to earn a work permit, the 6 foot 6 Serbian has been heavily linked with a return to Old Trafford. With just a year left on his deal at Torino, reports have suggested he could cost just €20m (£17m).
The 28-year-old conceded just 42 goals in 37 Serie A games last season, while ranking in the top 7% of goalkeepers in Europe’s top five leagues for save percentage. Sign him up.
2
RCB – Leny Yoro
After an injury-hit start to life in England, Leny Yoro truly came into his own in the final months of the season, notably scoring his first goal for the club away in Lyon.
Still only 19 and with a penchant for surging forward from deep, a player Rio Ferdinand dubbed “the best in the world” at that age could well kick on again next term as a mainstay of the backline.
3
CB – Harry Maguire
Stripped of the captaincy by Erik ten Hag in 2023, amid talk of a move to West Ham United, the subsequent redemption arc of Harry Maguire has been a joy to behold – a moment epitomised by his last-gasp winner at home to Lyon.
Described as “perfect” for a back three by Amorim, the 32-year-old – who will soon enter the last year of his contract – deserves to be a consistent figure in the backline once again.
Fitness permitting, of course.
4
LCB – Lisandro Martinez
Speaking of fitness, while Lisandro Martinez remains sidelined with an ACL injury, the World Cup winner is surely a shoo-in to start at left centre-back, having begun to come into his own in 2025, before his cruel setback.
The scorer of crucial goals away to Fulham and Liverpool, the 27-year-old is a ball-playing warrior when fit and firing.
Ayden Heaven may be the long-term solution, although Martinez surely has to start when back in contention again.
5
RWB – Amad
Is he a wing-back or a number ten? That much remains to be seen, although if the evolution of Amorim’s 3-4-3 set-up is to occur, a more attack-minded presence, like Amad, is needed in at least one of those wide berths.
The diminutive livewire ranked alongside Bruno Fernandes as the shining light of 2024/25, having ended with 21 goals and assists in all competitions.
|
Amad’s Man Utd record by coach |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Manager |
Games |
Goals |
Assists |
|
Erik ten Hag |
24 |
3 |
3 |
|
Ruben Amorim |
27 |
8 |
8 |
|
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer |
8 |
1 |
1 |
|
Ruud van Nistelrooy |
4 |
2 |
1 |
|
Ralf Rangnick |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Michael Carrick |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
64 |
14 |
12 |
|
Stats via Transfermarkt |
|||
Tied down to a contract until 2030, the 22-year-old could be the face of a new era in Manchester – not least with friend and teammate, Alejandro Garnacho, looking set for an exit.
6
CM – Bruno Fernandes (C)
The heart and soul of Manchester United, talismanic skipper Bruno Fernandes has shunned the Saudi riches to stay put next season, having rounded off last term by sweeping the club’s end-of-season awards. And rightly so.
While there is a curiosity over just what this team would look like without him – as well as his actual suitability for a starting berth in this system – the Portugal star simply has to remain the centrepiece of the side.
As Amorim admitted earlier this year, he is “one of the best players in the world”. You don’t find those so easily…
7
CM – Douglas Luiz
The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell has noted that United are seeking an ‘athletic number eight’ this summer. Douglas Luiz – who was linked with a move last month – certainly fits the bill.
A player of proven Premier League quality – having even been hailed as “better than [Declan] Rice” in some quarters – the former Aston Villa man needs rescuing from his Juventus hell, having started just six games last term following his £42m switch last summer.
While it has not been made clear how much the Brazilian would be available for, perhaps an astute loan offer could be in order, as Wilcox and co still seek to comply with PSR restrictions.
8
LWB – Pervis Estupinan
The Red Devils did already prise Patrick Dorgu from Lecce in January, yet at just 20 years old, the Dane is far from the finished article, having notably looked ‘out of his depth’ in the 1-0 loss to Spurs – according to journalist Samuel Luckhurst.
In Brighton’s Pervis Estupinan, United could then find a perfect upgrade in that wing-back role amid links to the 27-year-old, a player whom Fabian Hurzeler has hailed as “one of the best left-backs in the Premier League”.
The need for players of top-flight quality is evident, with the £38m-rated Seagulls defender another who fits the bill.
9
RAM – Bryan Mbeumo
Speaking of Premier League quality, what a signing it would be if Mbeumo does make his way to Manchester, with the Cameroon international seemingly preferring a move to Old Trafford, despite interest from Champions League sides Arsenal, Newcastle and Spurs.
Fresh off the back of scoring 20 league goals for Brentford, the 25-year-old would surely enhance Amorim’s floundering forward line, with no United player even reaching double figures for goals in the top-flight last season.
While negotiations continue over a potential fee for the versatile winger, if a deal is to be agreed, it would be yet another statement one for the INEOS regime.
10
LAM – Matheus Cunha
Speaking of statements, already in the door is the aforementioned Cunha, with the Brazilian – like the man above – seemingly unperturbed by United’s lack of European football next season.
With 15 league goals of his own in 2024/25 – having scored 12 the previous campaign – the 26-year-old is another proven, albeit maverick talent who could re-energise Amorim’s attack, with echoes of a certain Eric Cantona already emerging.
Much work would need to be done to reach those heights, of course, yet this deal should hopefully prove to be another transformational one.
