Ruben Amorim has admitted for the first time that Manchester United could play with a back four at some point instead of the 3-4-3 formation he has fielded for all his 59 matches as the head coach.
In Monday’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth at Old Trafford Amorim again deployed the shape, with his wing-backs making a five-man rearguard when defending. While this became a four when attacking, as Amad Diallo pushed into midfield from right-back, Amorim has faced scrutiny for lacking the flexibility to change formation.
Yet with Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui, who also operates at wing-back, with Côte d’Ivoire and Morocco respectively at the Africa Cup of Nations, Amorim stated he is ready to field a four-man backline when asked if Tyrell Malacia may be selected in the position.
“It will depend on the way we are playing that particular week. But if we have to change to a back four, we change to a back four,” said Amorim, who joked in recognition of what he admitted. “I was saving this one for the last [comment].”
Amorim hopes to sign Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo in the January window. While the 25-year-old has a release clause for slightly less than £65m and currently prefers to join Liverpool, Amorim is also targeting Rúben Neves, Conor Gallagher and Tyler Adams to strengthen the No 6 position. The head coach stated there is finance to add to the squad.
“We’ll see,” Amorim said. “The only thing that we know is that we will only try to bring players that we think are going to be for the future. It’s not going to be to save something at this moment, to cope with the losses of three players for Afcon [Bryan Mbeumo is also at the tournament].
“It’s not going to be like that. We will try to bring now – and at the end of the season – players that are perfect for our future. So I don’t know what is going to happen, but it’s possible that we can do something. Even if we try to bring one player, maybe it’s not the position that is [the one] that we need [even] more.”
The last comment may refer to Amorim wishing to add a holding midfielder but not being able to sign the requisite one next month. Al-Hilal’s Neves, who is out of contract in the summer, would cost about £20m, though he may sign a fresh deal with the Saudi Arabia club and his salary of £350,000 per week is another potential stumbling block. Atlético Madrid’s Gallagher would cost in the region of €40m-€50m (£29m-£37m) but while the Spanish club want a sale, United’s preference is for a loan.
Any transfer of Bournemouth’s Adams, who suffered a knee injury in Monday’s draw with United, would be for about £40m and is almost certain to happen in the summer.
