New Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim's hint over first transfer

  /  autty

New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has already hinted at his first signing - and when it could happen.

Amorim, 39, has officially joined the Red Devils on Monday from Sporting Lisbon, who've received €11million (£9.25m) for his services. It'll soon be the Portuguese's turn to spend the club's money, with the January transfer window on the horizon.

With United languishing 13th in the Premier League, there's plenty of room for improvement. That's despite Erik ten Hag, who was sacked by the club last month after winning just four of his opening 13 games this season, spending around £200m in the summer transfer window.

The Mail claim that United are already monitoring Sporting's Pedro Goncalves, who was a mainstay in Amorim's title-winning side last season and recently returned to the Portugal squad. The 26-year-old winger, who can also play in central midfield, made 49 appearances across the campaign, scoring 18 goals and registering 16 assists as Amorim and Co. won the Primeira Liga in style.

Sporting have reportedly stuck a cool €80m (£66.5m) price tag on Goncalves, who Amorim talked up in his final pre-match press conference, having come from behind to beat Braga 4-2. "He can play for any team in the world and with any player because he is a great player. I could take him anywhere," the new United boss said via Record.

"He's very funny, which improves our relationship but he is also very intelligent. However, he also has to focus on Sporting because we have to be champions this year, but also as a Sporting coach, I say he could play for any team in the world."

But Goncalves won't be coming to Old Trafford this season, as the Red Devils have agreed not to poach any of Sporting's players in January. "I won't [sign Sporting players] in January, that's what I said," Amorim confirmed. "I don't know about the summer.

"The first point is to hold on until the summer. Sporting players are very good players, I don't know, we'll see. I know the phenomenon of football especially in England, and I know how things change.

"I can talk about [Mikel] Arteta, [Ange] Postecoglou, how things went well, how they went badly. What will dictate is how the first game goes, with a win or not. Then we'll see."

Related: Manchester United Sporting CP Rúben Amorim Pedro Gonçalves
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