Amorim given £100m war chest to rebuild and says he is targeting 'big players'

Ruben Amorim has been given the green light to spearhead a £100 million summer overhaul at Manchester United.

Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has promised to loosen the purse strings after a dour Manchester derby exposed the squad’s limitations.

Sunday’s 0-0 draw with City at Old Trafford—United’s fifth straight game without a win—left the Red Devils 13th in the Premier League, but Ratcliffe sees it as a call to action rather than despair, backing his head coach to turn things around.

Amorim, now five months into his tenure since replacing Erik ten Hag, has struggled to lift United from mid-table mediocrity, with just six wins in 19 matches across all competitions.

The goalless stalemate against Pep Guardiola’s side highlighted a lack of cutting edge—United managed only three shots on target despite City’s own patchy form.

Post-match, Amorim didn’t sugarcoat it: “We need big players—ones who fit how I see the game. The gaps are clear.” Sources say he’s targeting a striker, a midfielder, and a centre-back to bolster his 3-4-2-1 system.

Ratcliffe, speaking to BBC Sport on Monday, doubled down on his faith in Amorim despite the bleak league position.

“Ruben’s an outstanding coach—thoughtful, driven,” he said. “The squad he’s inherited isn’t where we want it, but we’ll fix that. We’re not bust at Christmas anymore—there’s money to spend this summer.”

The INEOS billionaire hinted at a £100 million war chest, though sales of underperformers like Antony—linked with a £50m move to Atlético Madrid—could push it higher.

Top of Amorim’s wishlist is a new No. 9 to solve United’s goal drought (37 league goals in 31 games). Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres, who thrived under Amorim, is a dream target, but his £80m price tag and preference for Champions League football (per A Bola) make it tricky—United must win the Europa League to qualify, with Lyon up next in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

Alternatives include Ipswich’s Liam Delap (£40m) and Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta (£30m), both scouted recently.

In midfield, Amorim wants a dynamic partner for Bruno Fernandes, who Ratcliffe insists “we definitely need” despite Real Madrid rumours.

Porto’s Alan Varela, a £50m-rated enforcer, is in the frame. Defensively, a left-footed centre-back like Fenerbahçe’s Yusuf Akcicek could complement Lisandro Martinez, especially with Leny Yoro and Jonny Evans injury-prone.

Ratcliffe admitted past transfer missteps—“We’re still paying for Onana, Casemiro, Antony”—but stressed a shift to “footballing merit” over glitz.

“Ruben’s got my full support,” he added. “This isn’t a quick fix, but he’ll be here a long time.” For United fans, it’s a glimmer of hope after a grim derby—though with Amorim’s side winless since March 16, patience is wearing thin.