Ruben Amorim has officially been announced as AC Milan's new manager, and he is already working on signing players from one of his former clubs. The ex-Manchester United boss plans to raid Sporting CP for Francisco Trincao and Morten Hjulmand, with Italian press dubbing the duo "two of Amorim's favourites."
Amorim's Return to Management
The 41-year-old has been handed his return to management five months after being sacked by United. The Old Trafford hierarchy got rid of Amorim following a 1-1 draw at Leeds, with Sky Sports News reporting that his emotional and inconsistent behaviour was a key part of his dismissal. Now, he is back in the hot seat in Italy and is already working on the transfers of Trincao and Hjulmand.
Challenges Ahead
This is not going to be easy for the AC Milan man, as both stars are in high demand this summer. Multiple Premier League sides are interested in the Portugal international, while Hjulmand is also of interest to Atletico Madrid. Trincao has a release clause of around £51million (€60m) and the Sporting captain's buyout price sits at a whopping £69m (€80m). However, Hjulmand has an agreement with Sporting to leave for a fee of around £35m (€40m) - meaning signing both would cost AC Milan around £86m in total.
Amorim's Edge
Amorim has a slight edge over other potential suitors for Trincao and Hjulmand, as he previously coached both players while managing in the Portuguese league. The Sporting captain has impressed in the past with his breakthrough at Lecce in Italy, and spent just a year under Amorim. He scored four goals and assisted four times in the manager's final full season in Portugal, winning the league title as well.
Trincao interests Amorim due to his ability to play across the front line behind the striker, having scored 47 goals and assisted 51 times in 208 appearances for Sporting. The 26-year-old is also of interest to Liverpool, as per the Record, with other reports linking Arsenal and Chelsea to the attacker.
Competition from Former Club
Meanwhile, Correio da Manha claims that United are also in the race for Hjulmand alongside AC Milan and Arsenal, with Michael Carrick's side reportedly leading the race. This would mean that Amorim would have to fight his former side for the midfielder's signature. But the 41-year-old is definitely up to the task, having confirmed he is ready for the exciting challenge in Italy.
Amorim said: "There are ambitions that stay with you throughout your career, and coaching AC Milan has always been one of mine. I know exactly what this club means: history, prestige and an extraordinary fanbase around the world. It is a challenge I embrace with pride and enthusiasm."
