Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim could have several team selection dilemmas after the Red Devils signed six players during the hectic summer transfer window
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim will already have an idea of his strongest team after welcoming six new players to the club this summer. United have spent more than £200million in the transfer window to help fix last season’s shortcomings, which ultimately saw the club miss out on European football.
Amorim is quickly approaching his first anniversary as United boss, joining from Sporting CP last November, and will hope his new signings can be long-term solutions for the club. There was plenty of fanfare surrounding United’s potential new frontline of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and striker Benjamin Sesko.
Meanwhile, teenage prospects Diego Leon and Enzo Kana-Biyik also headed to Old Trafford during the summer. The £18.2m arrival of goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp on deadline day could prove to be Amorim’s most important addition, given Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana’s early mistakes this season. Here, Mirror Football take a closer look at what Amorim’s preferred line-up might look like after the transfer window closed on Monday.
Goalkeeper
The goalkeeping situation is one of the most intriguing puzzles in Amorim’s team. Bayindir has been preferred to Onana during the first few games, but United’s decision to pursue a new shot-stopper tells its own story.
Lammens was United’s preferred choice, despite Emiliano Martinez’s desire to join the club. The Argentine reportedly had conversations with Amorim earlier this summer and was not involved in Villa’s defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday, but no deal transpired as Lammens secured his move to United.
The Belgian still represents a risk for the Red Devils. The 23-year-old is viewed as a player who can grow into being United's No. 1, but only spent last season as first choice at Antwerp.
However, given United’s willingness to sign a new keeper, it seems Lammens would feature in the club’s strongest team.
Defence
In terms of the defence, Amorim has already shown his preferred back three for his 3-4-3 formation, picking Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Luke Shaw in every league game so far this season.
However, that back three could be altered at a later date when Lisandro Martinez returns from injury, while Harry Maguire has also performed well when called upon by Amorim.
Wingback poses another question for Amorim. Patrick Dorgu would be a clear choice on the left side, despite being dropped for Diogo Dalot against Burnley at the weekend. In arguably United’s best performance so far this season against Arsenal, Dalot started on the opposite flank.
However, Amad may ultimately be preferred on the right to provide the team with more attacking edge. Meanwhile, Dalot will be able to provide cover in both wingback positions.
Midfield
In midfield, Amorim has opted for a centre-midfield duo of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in all three league games, placing them ahead of Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo in the pecking order.
While there is a clamour for Mainoo, who submitted a loan request, to start more under Amorim, the United boss favours Casemiro’s experience and Fernandes’ creativity from a deeper midfield role.
Forwards
Further forward, Mbeumo and Cunha have shown encouraging early signs since joining United. Mbeumo has already claimed one of the three forward positions, while Amorim is also fond of Mason Mount, forcing Cunha into more of a centre-forward role.
However, it seems logical that Mount will lose his starting spot when the manager begins to rely more on new striker Sesko. The Slovenia international scored 39 goals in 84 games at RB Leipzig.
United signed Sesko in a deal worth up to £74m from Leipzig but Amorim has been patient with the forward. The 22-year-old has featured from the bench in all of the club’s league games so far, but is the best recognised centre-forward in the United squad.
Man Utd’s best XI (3-4-3): Lammens; Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw; Amad, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Sesko, Cunha.
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