Manchester United eyeing up summer move for 'the next Bukayo Saka': report

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim will take charge of his first game this weekend
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim will take charge of his first game this weekend (Image credit: Getty Images)

Manchester United are expected to make one of Sporting's talented teenagers their priority this summer.

New head coach Ruben Amorim arrived at the club last week and will soon take charge of his first Premier League game on Sunday, as the Red Devils take on Ipswich Town at Portman Road.

The 39-year-old helped develop a whole host of players during his time in Portugal, with one 17-year-old being tipped to complete a move in 2025 to Old Trafford.

Manchester United expected to make superstar compared to Bukayo Saka a priority in the summer

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: Bukayo Saka of England during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League B Group B2 match between England and Finland at on September 10, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Why are England wearing black armbands against Greece

United could soon have their answer to Saka (Image credit: Getty Images)

Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Nani are three perfect examples of the continuing relationship between Manchester United and Sporting, with those close ties expected to continue following Amorim's arrival.

So much so, the Manchester Evening News has reported that Sporting star Geovany Quenda is expected to be the focus of Manchester United's summer transfer business, with a move already being mooted.

Geovany Quenda of Sporting (R) runs with the ball during the match between Sporting CP and FC Porto at Estadio Municipal de Aveiro on August 3, 2024 in Aveiro, Portugal.

Geovany Quenda has been nurtured by Amorim and is wanted by Manchester United in 2025 (Image credit: Pedro Loureiro/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

The report states that Amorim is in need of transitional wide players who will complement his heavily-discussed 3-4-3 system which could signal the end for some members of his squad.

Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Antony and Jonny Evans could be at risk, as well as summer signing Joshua Zirkzee who prefers to operate in a number ten role.

Quenda – ranked at no.39 in FourFourTwo's list of the most exciting teenagers to watch this season – became the club's youngest league scorer against Famalicão last month, beating Cristiano Ronaldo's record and is Sporting's youngest player to start in the UEFA Champions League.

He also set up Victor Gyokeres for Sporting's equaliser against Manchester City just a few weeks ago, as Amorim's former side beat the former European champions 4-1 on home soil.

In FourFourTwo's view, this transfer almost looks like a no-brainer given the past successes of Ronaldo, Fernandes and Nani at Old Trafford in yesteryears.

The 17-year-old is likely to share the limelight with other talented stars such as Kobbie Mainoo, Rasmus Hojlund, Amad and Alejandro Garnacho, all of whom must be chomping at the bit to work under Amorim and his new approach.

Matthew Holt

Matthew is a Freelance Journalist and has racked up bylines for Manchester United, Manchester Evening News, GOAL and SPORTbible to name a few. A long-term sufferer of Scunthorpe United, he currently resides in the north-west after escaping the smog of North Lincolnshire.