Ruben Amorim could try to bring three Sporting Lisbon players with him after being appointed manager of Manchester United.
The Portuguese will start at Old Trafford on November 11 after United reached an agreement to offload the two-time Portuguese champions.
And despite predecessor Erik ten Hag receiving a lot of criticism for signing his old Ajax friends, Amorim could do the same next summer.
He has ruled out making a bid for Sporting stars in January but could look to load his cart with three aces next summer.
The sun reports that United could spend £175 million on a striker, centre-back and central midfielder and that Sporting’s chief executives are expecting the raid.
Incoming Man United boss Ruben Amorim could try to bring three stars from Portugal
Deadly striker Viktor Gyokeres – with an £84m release clause – tops the reported list
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Goncalo Inacio, a centre-back, is also part of the trio of candidates
Midfielder and loyal Arsenal fan Morten Hjulmand completes the trio that Amorim was able to acquire
It’s no surprise to hear the name Viktor Gyokeres among the trio. The former Coventry striker scored 43 goals last season and has already scored 18 goals this term.
Gyokeres, 26, has an £84m release clause and has refused to rule out a move to the Premier League, with Arsenal also named among his suitors.
‘Are you going to Man Utd with Amorim? “I don’t know… I’m here,” he said.
‘As you can see, I am enjoying my time at Sporting. It’s nothing I think about. I’m just sad that he (Amorim) is leaving. We wish him all the best.’
In addition to Gyokeres, United could approach central defender Goncalo Inacio, 23, and midfielder Morten Hjulmand, 25.
According to Portuguese media Record and O Jogo, United were already targeting Inacio this summer. Arsenal are also said to be interested in him in December 2023 and he has a release clause of £51m.
Inacio has won two Portuguese league titles, two League Cups and a Super Cup since stepping into Sporting’s first team in the 2020/21 season. He also played twelve international matches for Portugal and played twice at the 2024 European Championship.
Although he is mainly a central option, Amorim has also deployed him as a left back.
Sporting are at the top of the Portuguese league this season with ten wins from ten games
Amorim has led Sporting to two league titles and broken a 19-year run for the giants
Meanwhile, Hjulmand has been touted as a ‘replacement for Casemiro’, although he still has a long way to go to live up to the Brazilian’s reputation.
He has won one title with Sporting after spending the last few seasons with the Portuguese giants. The Dane started his career with Admira Wacker in Austria before moving to Lecce in Italy.
The Sun claims it would cost around £40 million.
Hjulmand scored a stunner at Euro 2024 against England.
However, there is one detail that United must be careful about. The midfielder has been a lifelong Arsenal fan and even has a tattoo of the club’s crest on his upper left arm.
If Sporting are worried that Amorim’s departure will derail their season, they can take a crumb of comfort from his assurance that he does not want to steal any stars in January.
“I’m not going to sign any players from Sporting in January,” he said.
‘Gyokeres costs 100 million (euros) and it is very difficult.’