Premier League

Ruben Amorim Has Three Manchester United Issues To Address – Details Emerge

Ruben Amorim is now Manchester United head coach having begun his reign on Monday.

The Reds boss has a near two week wait until his first match – at Ipswich Town on Sunday week – but there is plenty of work to do between now and then. His first few days will be spent familiarising himself with his new surroundings and staff before the players return from either international duty or a few days off.

United have markedly improved under the now departed Ruud van Nistelrooy but there is plenty of work to be done with the Reds still in the bottom half and with work to do in Europe. Amorim has three clear priorities.

Amorim will no doubt want to implement a style and put his own stamp on this misfiring United side but priority number one is results. The Reds are 14th in the Premier League following the weekend defeat to West Ham and are closer to the relegation zone than the top four.

The first task is to climb the table and maximise the potential of an immediate fixture list that includes several home matches and several fixtures against bottom half sides. United also need to find victories in the Europa League having managed just one in four outings. Going out at the first hurdle is unthinkable and Amorim must ensure United are at least involved in the play-offs come the new year.

Amorim’s Sporting hit seven in his first match in charge while he was able to lift the title within 18 months. He knows how to get results quickly.

United have struggled for goals this season and their two most recent striker acquisitions, Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund, have yet to fully convince. The latter has the potential to become a focal point of the attack while Zirkzee’s role remains uncertain given his lack of goalscoring prowess.

Amorim could use both’s tune-up to ensure United can turn chances into goals. It wasn’t too long ago that Marcus Rashford was enjoying the season of his career, yet he regressed last term—though the early signs this season have been promising. Restoring confidence up top feels like a big priority.

And United can look at Viktor Gyokeres for inspiration. Not so long ago he was in the Championship with Coventry, he’s exploded onto the world stage at Sporting with almost a goal a game and Amorim has played a role in helping the frontman take his game to the next level.

Old Trafford used to be a place of intimidation, where teams were beaten in the tunnel. Now it’s nothing more than a welcome mat.

United have lost the fortress that served them so well and if they can find a tempo, style and intensity to worry teams and lift the fans, they can begin rebuilding that Old Trafford fear factor. United’s support, particularly away, is superb and if Amorim can hit the ground running with the basic template expected of United – front-foot football, attacking intent, effort and intensity – then players and supporters can start to create a club with a clear identity.

Sporting’s final home match under Amorim showed how united the club was, with a thumping 4-1 win over Manchester City, where players, managers, and fans were all together. Amorim fostered that, with results and success helping, but it was only a little over 12 months before his arrival that the unrest was so patent at the club that fans stormed the training ground in protest.

Manchester United Evening

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Premier League

Watkins And Sesko Top Man Utd’s Attack Targets

Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko are at the top of Manchester United’s list of strikers if they decide to bring in further reinforcements during the current transfer window.

There is an acceptance among United’s hierarchy that they need to start off-loading some of their unwanted players – which might not happen until nearer the 1 September deadline – in order to fund a new arrival.

Neither player would be straightforward to bring to Old Trafford.

Newcastle, who have missed out on a number of key targets this summer and also have uncertainty over their own star forward Alexander Isak, are known to be keen on Slovenian Sesko.

The 22-year-old scored 13 goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances last season,

Villa have made it known they are not interested in selling England international Watkins.

However, United feel that stance might change nearer to the deadline, although they believe a suggested £60m price tag would be far too high for 29-year-old Watkins, whose contract at Villa Park runs to 2028.

At present, Rasmus Hojlund, who struggled last season scoring just 10 goals in 52 games, is Ruben Amorim’s first choice centre forward.

Amorim praised the Dane for his performance in Saturday’s 2-1 win over West Ham at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and the £72m man did well to use his pace and power to create an opportunity for himself which struck the outside of a post.

However, he has yet to score in two pre-season appearances and one missed first-half chance in particular drew a frustrated reaction from his boss.

United have so far signed three players this summer, spending almost £130m on attacking duo Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, who could also play as a central striker but are thought more likely to occupy Amorim’s preferred two number 10 slots, and teenage defender Diego Leon.

Amorim spoke on Friday about his current preference to sign players with knowledge of the Premier League.

Rashford joined Barcelona last week, while United’s other unwanted players Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Tyrrell Malacia were left out of the team’s tour of the US.

Last week, Amorim said the club would not sell the players on the cheap and would welcome them back into the fold if necessary.

Bbc.com

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Premier League

Frank Addresses Son’s Future Amid LAFC Links

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has provided an update on captain Heung-min Son’s future at the club, amid strong interest from MLS side Los Angeles FC. Son has entered the final 12 months of his deal at Spurs and is set for crunch talks with the English side over a new deal. LAFC have reportedly offered him a lucrative £15 million ($20.2m) per season contract.

WHAT HAPPENED?
Son has served Spurs for a decade now and is one of the greatest players to have ever graced the north London side. He helped the club to finally break their long trophy drought as he became the first Tottenham captain to win any European title after 41 years when they beat Manchester United to clinch the Europa League last season.

THE BIGGER PICTURE
The 33-year-old forward, however, has entered the final 12 months of his existing deal and is yet to hold talks with the club over a new contract. MLS club LAFC have reportedly tabled an offer to bring Son to the United States. Amid speculation over the South Korea international’s future, new Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has provided an update.

WHAT FRANK SAID
Speaking to Men in Blazers, the Danish coach said: “I think first and foremost, Son’s legacy here is remarkable. He’s been a fantastic player for Tottenham, he is a fantastic player for Tottenham. I see a player who can play a very good role here next season. He’s come in, very good mindset, trained very hard, pushed the players. So I’m excited about it.”

WHAT NEXT FOR TOTTENHAM?
Spurs are scheduled to face arch-rivals Arsenal in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong on Thursday.

Goal.com

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Premier League

Man Utd Loan Out Goalkeeper Amid Martinez Chase

Manchester United have a decision to make over their goalkeeping department with Andre Onana facing an uncertain future but one deal has already been confirmed by the Red Devils

Manchester United goalkeeper Radek Vitek has signed a new contract with the Red Devils before completing a loan move to Bristol City. The 21-year-old is a product of the club’s academy and has regularly been afforded chances to train with the first team at Carrington.

But instead of joining the side on their pre-season tour, Vitek has penned a new deal until the summer of 2028 and straight away moved to Championship side Bristol City on a season-long loan. The Czech Republic youth international has previously had spells on loan with Accrington Stanley and Austrian side Blau-Weiß Linz.

On completing his move to Ashton Gate, Vítek said: “I’m really excited, for me the Championship is a new level. More games is a big positive for me and I can’t wait to get to know all the players and staff better.”

Vitek will now hope to earn more experience having been tipped for big things by Academy lead goalkeeping coach Tommy Lee. He said: “Radek has done great out there in Austria.

“He got an injury early on but recovered extremely well and played really well. He has got really good experience there. I think we often use Radek as an example to some of the younger goalkeepers in the Academy.

“He is a player who maximises every part of the programme to ensure he is the best he can possibly be. Nutrition, gym, analysis. He is the consummate professional and that is going to take him, I believe, to the top level.

“He is a talented boy and that needs to be said. He’s 6ft 6ins and that always helps! For the other lads, their challenge is to be as good as Radek and do everything he does and more. He is a great example of someone who does that.”

Vitek’s departure comes amid uncertainty within the goalkeeping ranks at Old Trafford. Current number one Andre Onana’s future is up in the air following a tricky couple of campaigns during his time with United.

Ruben Amorim’s side have been linked with a host of potential replacements including Aston Villa star Emi Martinez. United have already lodged a loan bid for the 2022 World Cup winner but that was rebuffed by the Midlands side.

Senne Lammens of Royal Antwerp has also emerged as a potential option for United, albeit would be a far less experienced option that Martinez.

Mirror.co.uk

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