Fabrzio Romano reveals key position Manchester United are now targetting this summer

“I can give you one secret. Man United, at the beginning of the window, end of May/start of June, considered the opportunity to go for Joao Palhinha who is Portuguese like Ruben Amorim, he knows the player so well, now Palhinha is going to Tottenham, €30M loan deal with buy option.

“Man United decided eventually to go for a different player, less holding defensive midfielder, still defensive but with more intensity in their vision. Let’s see what happens and what kind of opportunity is on the market.”

This could bring a major tactical change to Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system. A midfielder who is active in pressing, can carry the ball forward and can switch the direction from defence to attack – would fit perfectly into Amorim’s tactical philosophy. Such players would not only add balance to the squad but also provide more freedom to the front three.

Choosing the right option is important

Amorim needs a midfielder who can act as a bridge between the defence and attackers like Cunha and Mbeumo. In a 3-4-2-1, the central pivot should not only screen but also make quick transitions. In such a situation, the failure to get João Palhinha would have been a disappointment, but it also means that United are now probably looking at other options. West Ham’s Edson Álvarez, Juventus midfielders Douglas Luiz and Khephren Thuram could be some very good options, as per the profile that the report indicates. Sporting CP’s Morten Hjulmand is also familiar with Amorim’s philosophy and could fit into the midfield with his intensity. Meanwhile, Douglas Luiz has also indicated his intentions to return to the Premier League, as we reported in one of our previous articles in our blog.

In a budget-based scenario, Youssouf Fofana (AC Milan) seems to be a smart pick, while Alan Varela (Porto) could be a long-term solution. If we go by the reports, our total focus should be on a player who can recover the ball consistently when we lose possession, but also supply quick support to Fernandes and Cunha. If the club can add this profile properly in the summer window, then believe me – Old Trafford will be ready for European nights again.