Jarrad Branthwaite alternative loved by Ruben Amorim gives green light for Man United transfer

Manchester United continue to be linked with defensive reinforcements ahead of the January transfer window - and one of Ruben Amorim's former players could be an ideal Jarrad Branthwaite alternative.

The Manchester club invested heavily in the back-line over the summer with the additions of Leny Yoro from Lille, and both Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich. However, they were also heavily linked with Everton's Branthwaite and even had offers for the highly-rated England international rejected.

Now, according to Sky Sports, Sporting CP's Ousmane Diomande has emerged as a transfer target for clubs in the Premier League - including Manchester City - but United might have the upper hand, given Amorim's recent arrival at Old Trafford.

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Diomande, 20, is an Ivory Coast international who moved to Europe in 2022 when he joined Danish outfit FC Midtjylland. He was then signed by Amorim and Sporting in January 2023 and has already made just shy of 70 appearances for the Portuguese club.

Amorim promised he would not sign any of Sporting's players in the upcoming January transfer window, but next summer could be a whole different story, as interest in Diomande ramps up. The article goes on to state that the United head coach has already "spoken" with the defender in a bid to persuade him to choose the club over any of their Premier League rivals.

Diomande now, reportedly, favours a reunion with his former manager as he knows it would be beneficial for his development. The defender signed a longer-term contract when he arrived almost two years ago with his current deal set to expire in the summer of 2027.

It has previously been reported he has a £69million release clause in his contract with Sporting - while the likes of Arsenal have made attempts to sign him in the past. Amorim typically used Diomande centrally in his much-talked-about back three.