Manchester United have one eye on the summer transfer window when Ruben Amorim will be hoping to be furnished with a new set of players following a chastening first campaign
Manchester United are preparing for a trip to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday, but really their priorities lie elsewhere. Ruben Amorim and his players are much more invested in the following game, against Athletic Bilbao, than the Bournemouth trip.
United lie 14th in the Premier League and know that the success of their campaign rests solely on their fortunes in the Europa League, where the prospect of winning the competition provides a place in next season’s Champions League.
Victory in Bilbao on May 21 will allow Amorim to consider his first season in charge a relative success, despite the dreadful league form. It will also provide a financial boost for the club – and make attracting new players much easier.
So it is full steam ahead towards the first leg in northern Spain next Thursday, but there is also one eye on the summer transfer window, which is moving closer and closer. Here are the latest headlines involving the club.
READ MORE: Man Utd eye Victor Osimhen in cut-price transfer as Ruben Amorim preference revealedREAD MORE: Man Utd identify two priority signings and want £95m for trio after brutal Ruben Amorim call
Osimhen targeted
Amorim has made Victor Osimhen his preferred target in the summer transfer window. The Nigeria international has scored 29 goals in 34 games for Galatasaray this season and is considered the best fit for United’s need for a prolific forward, amid Rasmus Hojlund’s struggles.
Osimhen, who is on loan at Galatasaray, is heading into the last year of his contract with Napoli and could be available for as little as £40million once the transfer window opens. With his contract close to completion and no chance of a new one being signed, Napoli know they need to cash in on Osimhen this summer.
United are also looking at Ipswich star Liam Delap, who will be available for £30m this summer, but Amorim favours a move for Osimhen due to his experience and proven goalscoring record. The Portuguese coach has been working with Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee this season and wants a sure bet.
Six players up for sale
Attracting players will be tough for United this summer, given their lowly position in the Premier League, but they have another problem: paying for the players. The club are in a bad state financially, having posted losses before tax of £312.9million over the past three seasons, and simply have to sell before they can buy.
Amorim was told earlier in the season not to expect a big transfer budget after the failure of the Erik ten Hag reign in the transfer market. But the coach has told his employers that he is happy to sell a host of unwanted players to fund the big push in the transfer window.
Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa), Jadon Sancho (Chelsea), Antony (Real Betis) and Tyrell Malacia (PSV Eindhoven) could all be sold to their loan clubs for a decent profit, and Mirror Football understands that Casemiro and Alejandro Garnacho would also be sold for the right price.
Amorim’s warning to youngsters
Amorim is ready to give more opportunities to young players in the remainder of the Premier League season, with the focus on the Europa League. But he won’t just hand out chances for the academy graduates, according to teenage star Chido Obi.
The 17-year-old forward has played just 46 minutes of action so far for United, after getting the last 20 minutes of United’s 1-0 loss to Wolves on Sunday.
“He’s just told me to be humble and keep working hard every day,” Chido Obi said. “And hopefully, I get more opportunities soon. My Dad and my Mum always told me to be a good person and listen to my coaches because they want me to get better, so it’s good.”
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