Manchester United will prioritise signings that fit Ruben Amorim's system this summer rather than pursuing big-name players, the head coach has revealed. With little left to play for in the Premier League, United host Manchester City on Sunday seeking a first league double over their rivals in five years.
Amorim's comments come after United's recent financial troubles, with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe cutting costs and admitting the club had overspent on transfers. A limited budget is expected, given Amorim's favoured 3-4-3 formation requires a number of bespoke signings. The January window saw only Patrick Dorgu arrive, a specialist left wing-back signed for an initial €30m (£25.1m) from Lecce.
Amorim said United were “trying to see gaps we have in our squad” and searching for the right mental and physical characteristics in potential targets. “I want to focus on our strengths and try to use our club to bring [in] one or two players, big players,” he said. “When I say big players, it's not players from Real Madrid, it's big players in the way I see the game.” He joked it would help if those players came without a hefty fee.
The head coach believes he is developing an understanding with technical director Jason Wilcox, having enjoyed a close relationship with Hugo Viana – now City's director of football – during their time together at Sporting. Wilcox is a former City academy coach and director.
“It's a different context, a different league. The competition is completely different,” Amorim said when asked to compare working with Viana and Wilcox. “I was so lucky to work with Hugo and I find more or less the same relationship with Jason. In that department I'm completely relaxed. We need to be really good in recruitment, we need to know our system and the players have to be perfect for that.” He added: “We know what we need to do. I am really excited for next season and already really stressed for next season because I put a lot of pressure on us.”
