Man Utd information: Ruben Amorim eyes £105m switch for midfielder as harm fears confirmed
Manchester United have been linked with a blockbuster move for a midfielder to solve Ruben Amorim’s engine room woes, with worrying injury news ahead of their Crystal Palace clash
Manchester United’s five-match unbeaten streak was halted on Monday night at Old Trafford when they lost in humiliating fashion against 10-man Everton.
Ruben Amorim’s squad, who were hoping to extend their impressive run, were thwarted by a robust Everton team who managed a 1-0 victory despite being reduced to 10 men for the majority of the match. Given the intensity of the English top-flight, there’s rarely any respite in the fixture list.
United’s next challenge is a trip to fifth-placed Crystal Palace on Sunday, where they’ll be aiming to bounce back with a win. Amorim is reportedly eyeing the transfer market to address United’s shortcomings, and the Portuguese manager has voiced his concerns about his team’s problems ahead of their trip to Selhurst Park. Here’s all the latest news from Old Trafford.
Real Madrid rumour
Despite bolstering their attack in the summer with the additions of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, United failed to secure a midfield signing.
It wasn’t due to a lack of effort, as the club showed interest in Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, but his reported £104million price tag meant a deal didn’t come to fruition, reports the Mirror.
United’s midfield certainly needs an overhaul, with Casemiro set to turn 34 in February and Manuel Ugarte struggling to adjust to the Premier League, causing headaches for Amorim.
According to a Spanish report, via TEAMtalk, the Portuguese manager is “planning to submit” a £105m offer for Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde. The 27-year-old has racked up 341 appearances for Los Blancos during his eight-year stint at the club, collecting 14 major trophies along the way.
Nevertheless, reports have been rife regarding his discontent at Madrid under Xabi Alonso, who has deployed the Uruguayan at right-back since October due to injuries to Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Injury update
The build-up to the challenging fixture against Palace hasn’t been ideal in terms of fitness concerns, with Amorim confirming that Harry Maguire, Cunha and Sesko will be absent from the match.
Sesko, who set United back £74m this past summer, has managed just six league starts this campaign and has netted only twice.
The Slovenian was withdrawn during their 2-2 stalemate against Tottenham Hotspur with a knee problem and withdrew from international duty earlier this month. During Friday’s pre-match press conference, Amorim confirmed he’ll continue without his striker’s availability.
The United manager stated: “Sesko is going to take a little bit more time, [Harry] Maguire again the same.”
Amorim defended
Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation has faced considerable scrutiny during his tenure in England, with the boss remaining steadfast in his approach.
The decision to deploy Luke Shaw as a left centre-back in the loss to Everton, despite Shaw’s traditional role as a left-back, drew criticism from Gary Neville who challenged the tactical choice.
Sunday’s clash at Selhurst Park will witness a tactical showdown between two 3-4-3 formations, with Oliver Glasner deploying the identical setup.
The Austrian boss bucked the trend by backing his counterpart’s stubborn commitment to the system, acknowledging it has boosted United’s attacking prowess.
Glasner remarked: “It’s really funny talking about the 3-4-3 system, and I think United have the highest xG in the Premier League for scoring goals.
“Their team has changed. Especially in attack. They needed more goals and they invested £200m, buying three players up front.”
He continued: “Also, now they have players who can play very intense like [Bryan] Mbeumo. For me, it’s impressive to see. We compared it [their last meeting] to where they are now.
“I think their work-rate is much higher than it was last year and then they get the reward.”
