Arsenal legend Ian Wright has dropped his early verdict on how two Erik ten Hag signings will fair under incoming Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim.
Ruben Amorim will leave Sporting CP on Sunday and complete his move to Old Trafford as the next Manchester United manager on 11th November.
Erik ten Hag was sacked from United last week after the Red Devils’ disappointing start to the 2024-25 Premier League season.
United triggered Amorim’s release clause – paying a £9.25m fee to Sporting CP – and the 39-year-old Portuguese manager faces a tough task at the Red Devils.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was Ten Hag’s assistant manager at United, has taken over as interim manager in the aftermath of the Dutchman’s dismissal from the club.
Sporting CP boss Amorim will be in charge of United for the Red Devils’ first Premier League match after the November international break.
Wright talks Amorim and Man Utd stars
Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United side will travel to Portman Road on 24th November for their encounter with Ipswich Town.
Speaking on the Wrighty’s House podcast, Ian Wright made his feelings clear on Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee under Amorim.
Rasmus Hojlund was signed from Atalanta in a deal worth £72m in 2023, while Joshua Zirkzee arrived at Old Trafford from Serie A side Bologna in the summer.
Amorim is widely tipped to replicate his Sporting CP style of play at United, with the Red Devils likely to play in a 3-4-3 or a 3-4-2-1 formation.
Wright believes that Hojlund “looks like a future player” and could be the leading man for Amorim at Old Trafford ahead of United teammate Zirkzee.
“Do you know something? When I look at the strikers at Manchester United, I look at [Rasmus] Hojlund and Zirkzee,” he said.
“Going forward, as a United player to take the club to the level they need to be – top-four, Champions League, title challengers – I can’t see in any formation Zirkzee making it from what I’ve seen so far.
“I can see it with Hojlund, he looks like a future player with better players around him. He gives me the impression that if he gets in and around the box and he gets chances, he can go hot.”
Wright talks Zirkzee and Amorim
Joshua Zirkzee has struggled to adapt to life in England since his summer move, with the Dutch forward scoring only once in 15 appearances across all competitions.
The 23-year-old United striker, who has two assists this season, made an instant impact on his club debut after scoring the winner against Fulham in August.
However, Zirkzee has failed to make his presence felt in the final third since the 1-0 win over Fulham at Old Trafford and Wright has his doubts about the player.
“I don’t see the same with Zirkzee,” Wright added.
“I look at him and his movement, I don’t see anything in his game that makes me think, ‘Okay, there he is, I see what he can do.’
“I see that in Hojlund and some of the others. I can see them easily levelling up but I feel for Zirkzee.
“United still need a striker. Whether they turn Marcus [Rashford] into that or they get a top striker in, they need one, to go alongside Hojlund and maybe for Hojlund to be the back-up.
“I’m trying to think of Ruben Amorim coming in and who he’s going to play. Zirkzee will need to go through some massive transformation to play in the team ahead of other players.
“He’s definitely not a natural goalscorer. I’m still waiting to see it from him.”
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