Man Utd ‘ready to make £33m transfer offer for Sporting wonderkid Geovany Quenda, 17, who terrorised Man City’
GEOVANY QUENDA could be in line to follow Ruben Amorim to Manchester United according to reports.
The Sporting Lisbon teenager was one of the stars who impressed when the Portuguese side beat Manchester City 4-1 in the Champions League in Amorim’s final home game in charge.
While it was former Coventry ace Viktor Gyokeres receiving the plaudits for his hat-trick in that game, 17-year-old Quenda was the star who got Gyokeres’ tally up and running thanks to a beautiful pass cutting through the lines.
Man Utd had already been tracking the left-footed winger, who played at right wing-back against City, before they moved for Amorim.
And according to A Bola, the Red Devils are preparing to make a transfer offer for him next summer.
The report suggests their first offer will be in the region of £33million.
However, Guinea-Bissau-born Portugal youth international has a full release clause of £84m after renewing his contract to 2027 in September – with his old contract containing a clause of £38m.
Amorim promised he would not take players from his former side in January, but did not rule out some moves in the summer.
He said: “In the January market I will not [get players from Sporting], that’s what I said.
“In the summer I don’t know anymore. First point: to hold out until the summer.
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“Sporting’s players are very good players. I don’t know. We’ll see.”
Quenda’s case saw Amorim take him with the Lions’ senior team in pre-season before integrating him into the first team and becoming integral to them before the 39-year-old manager left.
Amorim’s first game in charge at Man Utd will be against Ipswich this Sunday.
He has been boosted by the return of Leny Yoro and Tyrell Malacia in training, while the former could even make his club debut following his pre-season injury.
Despite sitting in 13th place in the league, the club are miraculously just four points behind the top four.
Three Sporting stars Amorim could swoop for after joining Man Utd
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.