Man Utd like £11m Sporting gem ‘quite a lot’ – Amorim could sign him for second time in 12 months

Add as preferred source on Google

Manchester United have one position on the mind to strengthen as a priority, but solving it could involve raiding Sporting Lisbon.

Ruben Amorim has only been the head coach of Manchester United for a month, and yet already he has identified the left side as a priority.

More specifically, the left winger-back position in Amorim’s 3-4-3 system is currently lacking a perfect fit, making Diogo Dalot a struggling solution thus far.

However, the left side has been a problem position at Old Trafford before the arrival of Amorim with Erik ten Hag explaining it was a factor in his struggles.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
13	Man UtdManchester United	15	5	4	6	19	18	1	19

Amorim has asked for additions in the position already, with multiple names linked such as Alphonso Davies and Alvaro Fernandez.

However, United could actually head to Sporting Lisbon for the perfect fit, United in Focus can reveal.

• READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Man Utd’s head coach – Ruben Amorim

Maxi Araujo a target for Manchester United

So with the left winger-back position an area United are likely to add to in 2025, the best possible option may be a player Amorim knows very well, Sporting Lisbon’s Maxi Araujo.

Transfer expert Graeme Bailey has revealed this to United in Focus, claiming the Uruguayan is a name that the club are keen on.

“Maxi Araujo is a player Manchester United like quite a lot,” Graeme explains. “They think he could be a good fit as that left-sider, more of a winger-type wing-back.

“He’s one they liked prior to Amorim, but they’ve done more work on him since Amorim came in.

“He’s one they’re doing work on, as that left side is one position they definitely want to strengthen.”

If United go ahead and sign Araujo in 2025, it could mean Amorim is signing the 24-year-old for the second time in 12 months, as he actually only joined Sporting in the summer for £11m.

• READ MORE: Who are INEOS? Exploring Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s billion-pound business

Araujo is the perfect fit for Ruben Amorim

After Ten Hag signed several Ajax players, the idea of Ineos returning to Sporting to sign Amorim’s former players is one which we would be hesitant to support.

However, the situation is so different, with Amorim unlikely to be asking for Araujo – considering it will be Christopher Vivell and Jason Wilcox putting players forward as options.

Araujo is quite clearly as attacking a wing-back as possible, which perfectly suits the qualities that Amorim is demanding from the position right now.

With Araujo on one side and Amad Diallo on the other, United could be deadly out wide and it would also solve a big problem Amorim has right now.

So while we would not want to make a habit of signing Sporting players – Araujo is one we would love to see.