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Ruben Amorim's new Man United: Transfer verdicts, tactics, winners and losers, Van Nistelrooy fate

Ruben Amorim, Sporting coach, at a press conference at the Estadio do Dragao after the match between FC Porto and Sporting CP on 28 April,2024,Porto,Portugal (Photo by Rita Franca/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
-Credit: (Image: Rita Franca/NurPhoto via Getty Images)


Manchester United have found their successor to Erik ten Hag after agreeing a deal in principle with Sporting CP coach Ruben Amorim.

The Manchester Evening News reported on Wednesday that United and Sporting had agreed a deal after expressing interest in Amorim. Sporting had confirmed the day before that the Reds intended to trigger Amorim's €10million (£8.3m) release clause.

There are still details to be ironed out regarding his notice period and a further financial package for his backroom staff to also move to Old Trafford, but Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos have moved swiftly to appoint a permanent successor to Ten Hag, who was sacked on Monday following a 2-1 defeat to West Ham on Sunday - a result which left United 14th in the Premier League table.

READ MORE: How United could look next season with three major Amorim signings

READ MORE: 'Totally not true' - Van Nistelrooy defends United star

Amorim faces a huge challenge to turn around United's season, and the 39-year-old Portuguese - who has never managed a club outside his homeland - must both find results and impress his vision for the future on a dressing row low on morale - though a 5-2 Carabao Cup win over Leicester City on Wednesday, overseen by interim head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy, lifted spirits at Old Trafford.

With the deal yet to be confirmed and United potentially facing a delay until November to officially land their new coach, there are big questions facing Ineos and Amorim. The young coach uses a 3-4-3/3-4-2-1 formation which would be a break from tradition at Old Trafford - though that is not necessarily a bad thing given results in recent years.

The minority owners are keen to move away from a model of coaches having too much of a say over transfer policy, leaving a fragmented squad made up of various managers' signings on bloated contracts.

However, Amorim is reportedly keen on signing as many as three of his favourite Sporting players - Viktor Gyokeres, Goncalo Inacio and Pedro Goncalves - so it remains to be seen whether Ineos will back the coach in either the January or summer windows, or instead expect him to improve the players he already has at his disposal. One big question is whether United even have the right players to play Amorim's favoured system, or whether they will have to recruit regardless.

Amorim must also contend with squaring the circle of immediately improving results while also building for the future - a task which proved a bridge too far for Ten Hag. United need Champions League football - both financially and reputationally - but Amorim will have to walk a delicate line of getting points on the board while also overseeing a major switch in terms of tactics and ideology.

Speaking of the squad adapting, there will be inevitable winners and losers from Amorim's arrival. Will the likes of Manuel Ugarte, Mason Mount, Marcus Rashford or Antony get a new lease of life, and can Amorim's system unleash Bruno Fernandes or Rasmus Hojlund?

And what about Van Nistelrooy? The Dutchman got a rousing reception from the Old Trafford faithful as interim boss against Leicester: will Ineos or Amorim risk antagonising the fanbase further by jettisoning another club legend so soon after Sir Alex Ferguson's unceremonious exit?

With so many questions facing United and Amorim, we want you to have your say: take our survey below on the being issues for those in charge at Old Trafford, and tell us what you think.

Ruben Amorim's Man United: Take our survey

Once you have taken our survey, join the debate in the comments section here.