INCOMING Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has dropped a huge hint that he might carry out a summer transfer raid on Sporting Lisbon.
Amorim is set to begin work as United boss tomorrow, calling time on his four-and-a-half-year spell with Portuguese giants Sporting.
The 39-year-old has enjoyed success with Sporting since taking over in 2020, winning two league titles and two Portuguese League Cups.
And he’s done so with an incredible squad that has helped him gain an advantage over the opposition, alongside his tactical skillset.
But it looks as though Amorim could be ready to rip that squad apart and cherry pick the best part to lure to the Theatre of Dreams.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of his final game in charge of Sporting tonight, Amorim hinted that he could try and sign some of the current crop at the José Alvalade Stadium.
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Ruling out a short-term raid, he said: “In January I’m not going to get anyone from Sporting. That’s what I said.”
He then opened the door for potential business in the summer.
He added: “In the summer I don’t know what I’m going to do. The main point is to hold on until the summer.
“Second point, you can see that Sporting players are great players. Let’s see what will happen.”
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Sporting is stacked with top talent that could be of use to a struggling Man Utd side.
The Red Devils are crying out for a goalscorer and will certainly have a keen eye on Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres.
The former Brighton and Coventry striker has scored an unfathomable 66 goals in 67 appearances since his arrival in Portugal.
While he has already found the back of the net 23 times in 17 games this term – including a hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League.
Other players who have been tipped to make the switch include ball-playing centre-back Goncalo Inacio and holding midfielder Morten Hjulmand.
Amorim will already be reuniting with one of his former players at Old Trafford.
Summer arrival Manuel Ugarte played under Amorim 85 times and was a huge part of Sporting’s team during his spell with the club.
Three Sporting stars Amorim could swoop for after joining Man Utd
RUBEN AMORIM has ruled out poaching any of his Sporting Lisbon players in the January transfer window.
But the Portuguese side’s chiefs expect Amorim will come calling in the summer – with his cheque book wide open.
Here’s are three Sporting starts United could swoop for… but they won’t come cheap:
VIKTOR GYOKERES
Age: 26
Position: Striker
Cost: £84million
Swede has shone since joining Sporting last summer from Coventry — catching the eye of all Europe’s top clubs.
Hit 43 goals in 50 games last season and boasts 18 strikes already this term.
GONCALO INACIO
Age: 23
Position: Defender
Cost: £50million
Ball-playing centre-back was handed his debut by Amorim and has since become a key figure in Sporting’s recent title successes.
Can also slot in at left-back if required and has 12 caps for Portugal.
MORTEN HJULMAND
Age: 25
Position: Midfield
Cost: £40million
Dane is one of the top holding midfielders in Portugal — and made skipper by Amorim.
He could be the man to replace Casemiro.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
