As reported by the Manchester Evening News on Monday evening, Amorim has agreed a deal in principle with United to succeed Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford. Ten Hag was sacked on Monday morning, less than 24 hours after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham United.
United are understood to be locked in discussions with Sporting over a compensation package for Amorim. If successfully installed as United’s sixth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement 11 years ago, supporters should prepare themselves for the possibility of a formation change.
Amorim has enjoyed plenty of success in Portugal operating with a 3-4-3 system, featuring wing-backs. It is considered to be his favourite system and should not be dismissed as a possibility for United.
A 3-4-3 system offers both defensive solidity and attacking options, with the onus on the wing-backs to drop into a back-five when the opponent has possession and to push high up the field and support the attack when the team in question has the ball.
Currently, that would create a problem for United due to their lack of available left-sided defenders, but in the long-term, once current absentees are recovered, it could be a beneficial system.
Starting in goal, Andre Onana is highly likely to remain the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. He has improved since arriving from Inter Milan in July 2023 and has started all but one of United’s 14 matches this season.
His shot-stopping ability, highlighted by his terrific double save in last week’s 1-1 draw with Fenerbahce, has improved significantly, and he will still be keen to demonstrate the ball-playing expertise which made him United’s top target to replace David de Gea last year.
As far as the defensive line is concerned, a 3-4-3 formation will see Amorim deploy three central defenders across the back. United strengthened their centre-back pool in the summer, swooping for Leny Yoro from Lille and Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich.
De Ligt has experienced an inconsistent start to his United career, whereas Yoro is yet to start his after fracturing his metatarsal in the opening game of the club’s pre-season tour of the United States. United are hoping the Frenchman could be back available at some point in November.
As soon as he is recovered and his match sharpness develops, he could become a key member of the club’s strongest starting XI. He is considered a future star and United will want to maximise his potential as soon as possible, aided by the support of more experienced figures in Lisandro Martinez and De Ligt.
Bruno Fernandes is still the club captain and is capable of producing a moment of magic to get United out of jail, even if he has not been at his sparkling best so far this season. Getting a more familiar tune out of him will be a challenge for Amorim should he be lured to Old Trafford.
As far as the attack is concerned, United’s front three could be identical to the one Ten Hag picked for his final game in charge at the weekend, meaning Rasmus Hojlund may continue as the club’s chief striker, supported by Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford either side of him.
United’s strongest XI: Onana; Yoro, De Ligt, Martinez; Dalot, Mainoo, Fernandes, Mazraoui; Rashford, Hojlund, Garnacho.
