MANCHESTER UNITED are drawing up plans to return to land No1 defensive target Jarrad Branthwaite, according to reports.
Ruben Amorim is set to take charge of his first game for the Red Devils against Ipswich on Sunday.
Jamie Carragher is intrigued to see how such a “radical” move with work mid-season, while Amorim himself has warned fans they will need to prepare for some “hard moments”.
Regardless, United transfer chiefs look set to press on with plans to sure up the defence despite landing three defenders in the summer.
According to the Daily Mail, United are considering whether to return to Everton‘s doorstep with an offer for Branthwaite.
They saw two bids for the Englishman, 22, rejected in the summer, with the latter reaching £50million including add-ons.
Braithwaite’s arrival would serve to bolster the defence for a three-player defence, with Amorim’s style seeing him play a 3-4-3 shape rather than the 4-3-3 previously seen under Erik ten Hag.
However, the report says United will need to sell players if they want to make this move in January or next summer.
Elsewhere, United remain in the race to land Bayern Munich left wing-back Alphonso Davies.
The Canadian’s contract with the Bavarians expires in the summer, and according to AS he has made no decision over his future.
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La Liga giants Real Madrid have been long-term admirers of Davies, 24, and are reported by the outlet to have transferred their offer to the player’s agent.
This being said, with Ferland Mendy at the Bernabeu, strengthening the position is not a priority and they are not willing to get into a battle with other clubs.
Bild reports the offer for the Champions League winner is worth just under £10m per year.
But Davies’ agent Nedal Huoseh has dismissed talk of an agreement and claimed it is actually Man Utd who are “bidding hard” to sign Davies.
With Luke Shaw‘s fitness once again proving to be unreliable this season and Tyrell Malacia only recently returning from a long-term injury, moving for Davies would make sense as an aggressive wing-back option for Amorim.
SunSport have taken an extensive look into how Amorim is expected to get the team playing in the latest edition of our Tactics Exposed series.
A win can put Man Utd seventh in the table if results elsewhere go in their favour.
RUBEN AMORIM has ruled out poaching any of his Sporting Lisbon players in the January transfer window.
But the Portuguese side’s chiefs expect Amorim will come calling in the summer – with his cheque book wide open.
Here’s are three Sporting starts United could swoop for… but they won’t come cheap:
VIKTOR GYOKERES
Age: 26
Position: Striker
Cost: £84million
Swede has shone since joining Sporting last summer from Coventry — catching the eye of all Europe’s top clubs.
Hit 43 goals in 50 games last season and boasts 18 strikes already this term.
GONCALO INACIO
Age: 23
Position: Defender
Cost: £50million
Ball-playing centre-back was handed his debut by Amorim and has since become a key figure in Sporting’s recent title successes.
Can also slot in at left-back if required and has 12 caps for Portugal.
MORTEN HJULMAND
Age: 25
Position: Midfield
Cost: £40million
Dane is one of the top holding midfielders in Portugal — and made skipper by Amorim.
He could be the man to replace Casemiro.
