Amorim has main target decided and Man Utd could fund it with 3 loan deals

Rúben Amorim faces the daunting task of overhauling a Manchester United squad that is both expensive and underperforming to restore the club to its former glory.

A United manager should never have to grapple with the specter of relegation, yet that is the stark reality looming over Old Trafford this winter.

The immediate schedule offers no respite, with Liverpool and Arsenal next on the horizon—things could still get worse.

Amorim initially hesitated to take the job mid-season, wary of the challenges posed by the relentless English fixture schedule and the inability to imprint his philosophy on the squad.

He had hoped to avoid leaning on the January transfer window to kick-start his rebuild. However, circumstances now leave him with little choice.

The odds are stacked against him, but both Amorim and the club's new ownership remain open to the possibility of significant transfer activity.

After Erik ten Hag's £200 million summer spending spree yielded disappointing results, United’s financial situation is precarious, especially with the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) casting a watchful eye.

Nonetheless, several top targets remain in play if United can offload some of their high-earning but underperforming players.

To ease PSR pressure, United may need to move players like Casemiro, who earns over £300,000 per week. Even a loan deal with wages covered could significantly improve their financial outlook and free up funds for incoming transfers.

Amorim’s options may include creative financial strategies, such as spreading transfer costs over lengthy contracts—a tactic Chelsea has used effectively.

The club also has access to "credit facilities" for additional funding, though such measures would likely draw increased scrutiny from regulators.

Despite the challenges, The i Paper reports that conversations are ongoing with representatives of potential targets so United can act swiftly if funds become available.

Amorim’s immediate priorities are a wing-back and a striker. Portuguese left wing-back Nuno Mendes, currently at PSG, is the top choice for the left flank.

Mendes is reportedly keen on the move, making him an appealing target.

For the right wing-back role, teenager Geovany Quenda, who previously worked with Amorim, is seen as an ideal fit for the 3-4-3 system.

Quenda represents a more affordable option, though Sporting Lisbon is reluctant to sell mid-season.

As for a striker, Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and PSG’s Randal Kolo Muani have been considered.

Kolo Muani is reportedly available on loan with an obligation to buy. However, Amorim’s top choice is Viktor Gyökeres, the prolific Swedish forward.

While Sporting Lisbon might sell him for around £60 million in the summer, a mid-season move would require meeting his £80 million release clause—a figure that seems unattainable given United’s current financial constraints.

Almost every player, aside from a select few, is for sale at the right price.

Among the most likely to depart are high earners such as Marcus Rashford, Casemiro, and Antony.

Rashford, United’s second-highest earner, has expressed a desire for a new challenge but has yet to attract concrete offers from Europe, despite rejecting three proposals from Saudi Arabia.

Loaning out players like Casemiro and Antony to offset their wages could help United address PSR concerns.

Additionally, offers for Victor Lindelöf, Christian Eriksen, and Joshua Zirkzee—who is drawing interest from Serie A—will be considered.

Even regular first-team players could be sold if the price is right. Diogo Dalot is reportedly on Real Madrid’s radar, while Alejandro Garnacho has admirers tracking his situation.

Harry Maguire, whose contract expires in the summer, is one of the few players whose form has not significantly declined and could also be moved.

Amorim faces a monumental challenge at Old Trafford. With limited resources, he must navigate financial restrictions, offload underperforming players, and bring in talent capable of turning the tide.

As United teeters on the brink of an even deeper crisis, bold and decisive action will be needed to ensure the club’s revival.