Manchester United might be rotting in the lower levels of the Premier League tower, but there’s a hopeful feeling that Ruben Amorim is brewing something worthwhile at the Theatre of Dreams.

The business end of the domestic season might be one big dead rubber, but the Red Devils are still in with a shout for redemption in the Europa League, preparing for the two-legged quarter-final tie against Lyon.

Winning the second-rate continental title would hand United a golden ticket into next season’s Champions League, an incredible thought given the overall narrative of Man United’s season.

But winning is in this club’s DNA, and if INEOS manage to complete a positive transfer window, there’s every chance that Amorim could turn a much-needed corner and start to build something special.

Though United’s goalscoring woes have led online discourse to centre chiefly around the need for a new centre-forward, that’s hardly the only position requiring surgery right now.

Where Man Utd need to strengthen this summer

Rasmus Hojlund has fallen by the wayside this season, having scored just three times in the Premier League across 26 appearances. Though he’s often devoid of service, the young Dane is hardly imposing himself on defenders, serving dutifully as the focal frontman.

Joshua Zirkzee, at least, offers a bit more across the park, but then he’s also lacking the clinical touch in front of goal that the Manchester side so desperately need to reach the next level and bring some attacking fluency back to the team.

However, Old Trafford needs furnishing across any number of further areas. Some of the rot will depart at the end of the term: Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans – earning a combined £335k per week – are all approaching the end of their contracts.

Depth will thus be needed, with Amorim himself confirming that “big players” are needed. Patrick Dorgu, a tactically suitable wing-back, has already been welcomed, but another wide defender should be targeted and indeed an athletic midfielder too.

However, with Antony and Marcus Rashford out on loan and neither expected to play a part in Amorim’s future plans, a wide forward is also needed, and INEOS are lining up the perfect man, one of Europe’s very best.

Man Utd pushing for UCL superstar

TEAMtalk have reported that Man United have received a major boost in their bid to sign Barcelona’s Raphinha following the Brazilian’s bust-up with head coach Hansi Flick at the weekend.

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While Raphinha has been one of the best attacking players in Europe this season, such an altercation will only fan the flames of his potential departure, especially when considering La Blaugrana’s interminable financial problems.

Understood to be worth in the ballpark of €80m (roughly £67m), the 28-year-old is obviously in the upper financial bracket but has showcased through the 2024/25 campaign that Amorim would receive bang for his buck.

With United deemed to be ‘pushing’ for his signature, the former Leeds United man could be the marquee summer signing that is needed.

Why Raphinha would be perfect for Amorim

Barcelona signed Raphinha from Leeds for £55m in 2022, the winger rejecting interest from Arsenal and Chelsea to move to Spain.

He’s ebbed and flowed a bit over his three terms in La Liga, but Raphinha has found his footing and then some in Flick’s setup, having incredibly scored 27 goals and laid on 20 more assists across 47 matches in all competitions this term.

While his catalogue of goals takes the cake, Raphinha is one of Europe’s most creative players, making 23 big chances in the Spanish top flight alone. On top of that, he’s won 55% of his duels, as per Sofascore, which is no small feat for an attacking player.

The potent force behind Barcelona’s Champions League charge, Raphinha is being regarded as a genuine Ballon d’Or contender after such an impressive haul.

In fact, Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley has even pronounced him to be “Europe’s best player” this season, such is the sheer heights of his influence over a resurgent Barcelona side.

His new-found deadliness in front of goal has actually led data-driven site FBref to record Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah as one of his most comparable players.

He’s been United’s bane for some time, but the Egyptian’s talents would go down a treat in Amorim’s system, who could sign a younger and more athletic version in Raphinha.

Goals

0.71

0.70

Assists

0.32

0.47

Touches

56.29

45.23

Touches (att pen)

5.31

8.93

Shots taken

3.61

3.338

Shot-creating actions

5.41

4.30

Progressive passes

4.27

4.02

Progressive carries

3.03

3.85

Successful take-ons

1.52

1.34

Comparing the respective players’ performances over the past year, you begin to see the value that Raphinha would add to Amorim’s squad, adding a Salah-like attacking certainty to the mix.

Raphinha is a silky and fleet-footed winger, but he’s traded in some of that unrelenting intensity for a more refined and purposeful goalscoring presence.

Liverpool are going to win the Premier League title and so much of their success is down to Salah’s remarkable consistency in and around the final third. Across 45 matches in all competitions, the 32-year-old has scored 32 goals and supplied 22 assists for his teammates.

With Amorim’s preference for overlapping, energetic wing-backs, you start to see the vision. Raphinha is hardly lazy, but his tactical approach, working so well at Camp Nou, could remain intact or maybe even rise to the next level, becoming United’s attacking superstar and being afforded even more room to showcase his prolificness.

Given that he’s already thrived in the Premier League before, with Leeds, Raphinha might just be the tonic to United’s troubles. Dan James once remarked that the £201k-per-week talent is a “magician” of a winger, but since he’s been away, there’s been a discernible shift to something more mechanical, economical, effective – call it what you will.

The important bit is that Raphinha has hit a new level and is reaching some rather concrete Ballon d’Or-related conversations. He could emulate Liverpool’s Salah and lead the Theatre of Dreams back to glory.

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