Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is a week away from his first game in charge and will already have tactical ideas in mind.
The international break can’t end soon enough for Manchester United fans.
This is usually the case for any international break but especially this time with Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United debut looming.
United announced Amorim’s appointment as head coach on November 1, landing him to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag.
Amorim has now arrived in Manchester after agreeing to stay with Sporting until the international break, meaning his United reign has officially started.
Amorim’s first game in charge comes against Ipswich Town next Sunday as the Portuguese coach prepares to battle Kieran McKenna at Portman Road.
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Signings surely won’t be at the forefront of Amorim’s mind right now.
There are many United players Amorim hasn’t even met yet, so getting his tactical ideas over in a short space of time is the focus.
Amorim has hinted at playing with wing backs, potentially bringing his 3-4-3 system to Old Trafford.
Left wing back looks to be a problematic position though with nobody in the first-team squad looking an ideal fit for that role.
That may force Amorim into the transfer window down the line and we have already seen United linked with a move for Alphonso Davies.
Another option is Alvaro Fernandez, who was sold by United to Benfica earlier this year.
The Spaniard has been in superb form for Benfica this season and reports claim that United are interested in re-signing Fernandez.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are keen on Fernandez – also known as Alvaro Carreras – and it looks like Amorim is keen.
Caught Offside claim that Fernandez is one of the ‘main names being looked at’ with a new left wing back a key priority.
It’s stated that Amorim has ‘mentioned’ Fernandez as a player he would like to work with at Old Trafford if a deal can be done.
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Amorim has no doubt seen plenty of Fernandez’s brilliant displays with Benfica but they have never actually faced off against each other.
Fernandez has been on the bench three times against Sporting but never been brought on, meaning Amorim really will have been an admirer from afar.
Amorim will no doubt weigh up a number of options at left wing back but United’s buy-back clause on Fernandez makes him especially interesting.
Reports suggest that United have a buy-back clause on Fernandez – and it’s worth just £16.7million.
That certainly wouldn’t break the bank for United but a new signing cannot just be a squad player.
Anybody coming in needs to be ready to make a first-team impact and that is something United and Amorim must weigh up carefully with Fernandez, a player United were happy to let go less than a year ago.
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