Manchester United's recruitment in summer transfer window 'crucial' for turnaround, says Ruben Amorim

Manchester United need to be smart when it comes to the summer transfer window and avoid making expensive mistakes if they are to halt their rapid decline, according to manager Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese coach hasn’t quite been able to revive United’s fortunes since he replaced the sacked Erik ten Hag in November, with the 20-time English top-flight champions currently 15th in the standings.

Amorim, however, believes getting their summer recruitment right will be “crucial” for the club to turn things around next season.

The ‘Red Devils’ had spent £600 million ($760 million) on purchases during Dutchman ten Hag’s reign that had lasted a little over two years.

Amorim, in comparison, had to manage with limited funds during the January transfer window thanks to slashed budgets across the board with Danish defender Patrick Dorgu – who joined United from Lecce on a deal worth £25 million – being his only signing.

The club announced Monday that they expect up to 200 fresh redundancies as part of a “transformation plan” to improve stability.

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Amorim admitted on Tuesday that those losing their jobs had paid the price for the club’s lack of on-field success in recent years and put poor recruitment at the heart of the problem.

“It’s easy for me to be here and say all the pretty stuff – we have to improve,” said Amorim.

“The recruitment I think is crucial, we need to improve the team. We need to perform better, we need to be in Europe and not in our position during the season.”

However, the former Sporting Lisbon boss conceded that actions speak louder than words and he has to convince both supporters and colleagues that he can turn United’s fortunes around.

‘They are paying the price for our lack of success’: Amorim

“They are paying the price for our lack of success and I cannot say anything now that is going to convince the fans and all the staff that we are going to do it,” he added.

“We have an idea. For me as a coach, we need to be a better team and to recruit better and don’t make a lot of mistakes in that department.”

The £100 million outlay on misfiring strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee is just one example of where United have failed to get value for money.

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Hojlund has only found the net twice in the Premier League this season, with his last goal in any competition coming against Viktoria Plzen back on December 12.

Amorim, though, said the Danish international needs to be provided with better service.

“I think it’s clear, we as a team, we are not helping Rasmus,” said Amorim. “We don’t create a lot of chances.

“I think Rasmus has a lot of potential. If we improve the way we play the game, he will have more opportunities to score. He came here very young and, when you are very young, to be the number nine and play all the time sometimes is hard.

“He has the ability, he already showed that here, but I think it’s more a team thing than a Rasmus thing.”

With AFP inputs