7 Amorim transfer targets Man Utd blocked and four they could yet sign | Football | Sport

Instead of going after Watkins, United secured a £74million deal for the younger Benjamin Sesko, who offers greater potential resale value. Despite not being as prolific as hoped, his recent double in the 2-2 draw against Burnley suggests things may be looking up for the Slovenian.

Meanwhile, Senne Lammens, the latest custodian of United’s No. 1 berth, is faring rather well. The former Royal Antwerp shot-stopper has proved to be one of United’s recent transfer successes.

Amorim unsurprisingly looked to former club Sporting CP for reinforcements in various areas of his squad. Reports suggested winger Geovany Quenda, midfielder Morten Hjulmand, centre-back Ousmane Diomande and versatile wide man Salvador Blopa were all on his radar.

However, any potential move for Quenda is now off the cards as he’s already completed a £42m switch to Chelsea ahead of this summer. Nevertheless, the other three Lisbon-based players could each bring something valuable to the table in Manchester.

Particularly defensive midfielder Hjulmand, who at 26 fits the bill for someone who could make an immediate impact. Reports suggest Casemiro will depart Old Trafford this summer, freeing up a significant chunk of the wage bill, while Manuel Ugarte has failed to impress following his £42m transfer from PSG.

Despite some past inconsistencies, United have come to heavily rely on Casemiro’s abilities in midfield. Portuguese newspaper A Bola has reported Hjulmand has a £69m release clause in his contract that will become active for a short period in the summer, although Sporting may be willing to let him go for as little as £43m due to his good conduct.

A player of Diomande’s calibre may not be a top priority for United given the promising young defenders already in their first team. However, fitness concerns surrounding players like Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire could shift priorities.

Maguire’s departure could leave a significant gap when his contract expires this summer. With Shaw’s contract also set to end after the 2026/27 season, it might not be long before bolstering the central defence becomes a pressing issue.

Blopa, 18, would have been a perfect fit for Amorim’s former 3-4-3 formation, adept at playing as a wing-back or wide midfielder. His versatility could still prove useful for United, although securing his services might be more challenging now he has signed a new contract with Sporting until 2030, which supposedly includes a hefty £68m release clause.

Finally, Amorim had his sights set on PSG left-back Nuno Mendes, a move that would have been very costly. Despite Patrick Dorgu going on to occupy the left wing-back position at Old Trafford, a deal for Mendes could still make sense.

Dorgu has shown potential playing from the right wing and could be used there more regularly in the future. Plus, signing Mendes, one of Europe’s top talents in his position, would send a strong message that United are still among the world’s elite clubs.