It has been quite the rollercoaster of emotions during Ruben Amorim's reign in charge of Manchester United, from early struggles to sporadic success. But after a tough opening two months of the season, the Portuguese manager now seems to have a more concrete idea about what his squad needs to return to the summit of world football. It was a task that had seldom been more starkly defined: United need reinforcements, and quickly, to claw back lost ground towards a state of consistency. The January transfer window is unlikely to be the solution, but plans for the summer are under way, with minds turning towards those positions within the team that really need attention.
Early Struggles and Signs of Hope
In his first 12 matches at the helm, Amorim has secured a mere four victories, with six defeats including disappointing setbacks against teams such as Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, and Wolves. Those blips have aided talk that United may be scrapping to avoid the drop this campaign, but naturally, there is another side. Glimmers were indeed there: a 2-2 draw at Anfield against Liverpool and a 2-1 win over rivals Manchester City before Christmas did give something tangible to believe in. Results close to perfection, though not perfect, have restored the belief that Amorim is indeed the right man to help United through their challenges.
But one thing is clear: the team under Amorim desperately needs an urgent restructuring if the club is ever to taste glory once again. So far, the balance has not worked out for the Portuguese manager, whose every move raised eyebrows, but reinforcements may finally pave the way for rebuilding.
Transfer Market Struggle
All this places United's financial position under the spotlight, particularly after failing to strengthen during the just-concluded January window. Having spent a tad over £205 million this summer on five signings, United find themselves unable to add much-needed depth due to budgetary constraints. This has been exacerbated by the club struggling to meet the Premier League's rules over profitability and sustainability, meaning for the moment at least, United need to find sales to offset any new arrivals.
But all the same, the club is already planning for summer. Amorim has reportedly pinpointed what needs strengthening, and one such area is the left-back spot. The persistent problem of Luke Shaw's frequent injuries has remained a headache for United. The absence of the England international has seen Amorim resort to deploying Diogo Dalot in the left wing-back position, despite Dalot being a right-back by nature. This temporary fix has surely hampered United's fluency at the back.
Milos Kerkez: The Solution to United's Left-Back Problem
One player the Portuguese boss reportedly keeps tabs on is Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez. The Hungarian international has been one of the standout performers in the Premier League this season and has been widely regarded as one of the top left-backs in the division. Kerkez's great form for Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth has made him hot stuff, and Amorim is rumoured to be interested in bringing him into Old Trafford in the not-too-distant future.
Only 20, Kerkez has already demonstrated his excellent technical ability, pace, and defensive awareness; he is tailor-made for Amorim's tactical setup given his capability to contribute both in defense and going forward because full-backs are expected to give width and support in attack. With the injury problems of Shaw, the signing of Kerkez will bring much-needed stability at United's left-back position and add depth to the squad.
A Long-Term Plan for United's Success
With any major moves from United unlikely to materialize in January, all eyes are on this summer when Amorim can begin to retool his squad in earnest. There are several areas of the team that need fixing, and the right signings mean the manager will be able to mould the team in his vision. Kerkez is just one of the types of players that Amorim will look to bring in, with more names expected to emerge ahead of the summer window.
With the team starting to show signs of improvement and the manager seemingly getting a clearer idea of what he needs, United fans can also take hope that their club is shortly on course for the regaining of former glories. With Ruben Amorim's plan beginning to take shape, it may only be a matter of time before United are challenging once again for a Premier League title and competing regularly in the Champions Leagues of Europe.
Recovery will not come easy, but with proper investment in a more balanced squad, the resurgence of Manchester United under Amorim may just be closer than many think. The next few months will be important ones as Amorim's blueprint starts to unfold and the Red Devils begin to take their first steps to reclaim their spot among the best of English and European football.
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