Managing Man Utd: Ruben Amorim secures £65m signing as he executes formation change plan

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Manchester United are set to take on an in-form Aston Villa side in the Premier League on Sunday. Ruben Amorim ’s Red Devils had to settle for a 4-4 draw in a dramatic encounter with Bournemouth at Old Trafford last time out.

Having come under enormous pressure earlier this season due to poor results, Amorim has found some stability with his team now on 26 points and vying for one of the Champions League spots. The trip to Villa Park is expected to be a challenging affair as the Villans are in the midst of a nine game winning streak in all competitions.

Amorim’s task will be made even more difficult by several of his key players departing for the Africa Cup of Nations . But times of difficulty can bring positive change, which Amorim will hope can be the case.

The January transfer window is now just over a week away, giving the United hierarchy a chance to freshen up their squad. Now, Mirror Football takes a look at three major decisions the United head coach might make in the coming weeks.

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The rollercoaster draw against Bournemouth saw Amorim deploy a very different version of the 3-4-2-1 system he has rarely strayed from during his year-long tenure. Amad on the right flank played further ahead of the left wing-back, Diogo Dalot, whose position was more akin to a traditional left-back.

Leny Yoro therefore played the right-back role as Amad tucked inside as a midfielder and occasionally moved back to right wing-back. Amorim admitted post-game he had been working on a different shape at Carrington.

That means his formation against Aston Villa on Sunday could once again resemble more of a 4-3-3 or a 4-4-2. The Portuguese admitted last week United would have to change once Amad, Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui left for the Africa Cup of Nations, which gets underway this weekend.

Given those departures and Casemiro’s suspension, United could line-up with the following starting XI against Unai Emery ’s men: Lammens; Dalot, De Ligt, Martinez, Shaw; Ugarte, Fernandes, Mainoo; Mount, Sesko, Cunha.

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Reports suggest Bournemouth sensation Antoine Semenyo is United’s top transfer target ahead of the January window. The Red Devils could be set for a four-way tussle with Tottenham , Liverpool and Manchester City for the winger, whose £65million release clause activates at the start of next month.

Semenyo, 25, was linked with an Old Trafford move last summer but Bournemouth’s £80m asking price led United to cool their interest. But Amorim has remained a huge admirer, even describing Semenyo as a “special player” ahead of the draw against the Cherries.

If United successfully land the Ghanaian in January, he could be used as a left-winger in a 4-3-3 or provide a solution to their left wing-back problem in a 3-4-2-1, given Dalot has failed to convince in the role.

Crucially, Ghana have failed to qualify for AFCON, which means Semenyo remains eligible for selection for his new club throughout January if signed.

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United could also be active in the transfer market by way of outgoings as they look to fund their pursuit of top talent. In order to pull off fresh signings, reports claim they will listen to offers for their underperforming players, namely Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte and Tyrell Malacia.

Malacia was part of United’s ‘bomb squad’ of players who trained away from the first team in the summer but didn’t seal a move away. He has appeared on the bench on several occasions but hasn’t been able to get on the pitch, meaning he could depart in January.

Zirkzee has largely failed to adapt to English football since his £36.5m move from Bologna in 2024. Ugarte has been similarly disappointing since his own £42m move from PSG in the same window, which could see both players transfer listed.

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