MU new signing could force transfer after firing clear warning at team-mates

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is assessing his players in pre-season and has decisions to make at left-back, where he has four players competing for a place

Manchester United are considering whether to loan out academy graduate Harry Amass after Diego Leon’s arrival in the summer transfer window. Having agreed to sign back in January, Leon has now joined the United squad and is trying to impress Ruben Amorim.

The 18-year-old left-back signed for United in the January transfer window but due to his age, was unable to join his new club until the summer. Leon has already racked up 33 appearances in Paraguay with Cerro Porteno and is certainly not lacking in confidence.

Speaking at Asuncion’s Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, he outlined his plans. “I'm really happy, I think every player dreams of this,” he told Paraguayan press.

“When you're a professional, you have to adapt quickly, it is a massive opportunity. Everyone thinks I'll go out on loan, but I don't have that mindset. I'm going to kill it in pre-season and within one or two games, I'll already be playing with them.”

Having made it clear that he wants to compete for a place in the first team, Leon is now trying to catch Amorim’s eye in pre-season. He is up against Patrick Dorgu, Luke Shaw and Amass in Amorim’s squad, a situation that appears to require some attention, especially if the rumours of interest in Brighton left-back Pervis Estupinian come to fruition.

Amass made four starts under Amorim at the end of last season and held his own, yet he could be the one who departs, with Leon needing time to acclimatise. The Athletic reports that Amass could be sent out on loan, despite showing promise last season, with United keen to clear pathways from the academy to the first team.

The club are reportedly consulting the representatives of their academy players in order to determine which players can be moved on. They are said to be willing to take low fees, or none, with add-ons attached, in order to clear the decks.

It means the likes of Dan Gore, Ethan Wheatley, Tyler Fredricson and Toby Collyer could leave Old Trafford this summer, be it on loan or a permanent move. Gore is wanted by Rotherham on loan, while the others have decisions to make regarding their future, with regular game time at United unlikely this coming season.

United begin their pre-season against Leeds in Stockholm this weekend before the squad travels to the USA, where they will take part in the Premier League Summer Series. They will face West Ham in New Jersey on July 27, before games against Bournemouth and Everton in Chicago and Atlanta before heading back to the UK.

Amorim’s side play Fiorentina at Old Trafford in their final pre-season game on August 9, before starting their Premier League campaign against Arsenal on August 17.