Amorim can unearth his new Quenda in Man Utd’s “explosive” 17-year-old

Ruben Amorim will be wanting to make a real mark on the Manchester United squad over the summer transfer window, offloading numerous players who aren’t at the level required.

The Red Devils have been languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table throughout 2024/25, falling way short of the expectations of the fanbase.

However, the 40-year-old has only had one transfer window to make an impact at Old Trafford, needing more time before a judgement is made on his tenure in charge.

He will be hoping that the hierarchy will back him in his quest to lead the side back to the summit of the division – a position they undoubtedly belong in, given their previous success under Sir Alex Ferguson.

It looks extremely unlikely that he will be able to secure a reunion with one player, given the news that has emerged over his future over the last 48 hours.

Man Utd look set to miss out on Geovany Quenda

According to David Ornstein, Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Sporting CP wing-back Geovany Quenda for a fee in the region of £40m – a simply bonkers fee for a 17-year-old.

The deal will see the teenager spend next season on loan at the Portuguese side before signing an eight-year contract with the Blues and linking up with them in the summer of 2026.

United were previously in the race for his signature

, with Amorim undoubtedly keen for a reunion, given the youngster’s form under his guidance back in his homeland.

Quenda has registered two goals and six assists in 43 appearances across all competitions in 2024/25, with the Red Devils possibly ruing not agreeing a deal with Sporting before Chelsea swooped in.

However, the supporters shouldn’t worry, with the club already having a player who could become even better than the teenager should he receive first-team minutes in the near future.

The Man Utd star who could be Amorim’s next Quenda

Patrick Dorgu moved to the club in January from Italian side Lecce, looking to nail down the left-back role – a position that has often been a problem for various managers over the years.

The Dane has already starred in his short spell at Old Trafford, featuring six times across all competitions – with his best display coming in the Europa League on Thursday night.

However, the right side still remains up for debate, with Amorim potentially having his own version of Quenda in the form of 17-year-old Bendito Mantato, who has excelled at youth level.

Mantato can operate either in a full-back position or off either flank in the final third, having the versatility to feature in a wing-back role in Amorim’s five-back system.

The youngster has registered seven goals and one assist in his 14 youth appearances throughout this campaign, highlighting the attacking threat he possesses.

However, analyst Ben Mattinson has dubbed the teen as “creative” and “explosive”, but also possessing a lot of the qualities that saw Quenda drop into a slightly deeper role – a decision that has taken his career to the next level, as seen by his pending move to Chelsea.

His 1v1 ability has caught the eye in the academy setup over the last couple of months, undoubtedly contributing to his tremendous goalscoring record for the youth side.

Mattinson previously stated his recovery pace makes him perfect for a wing-back, combining both of his key assets and allowing for the manager to have another talented teen in his squad.

If Amorim has been able to achieve such success with a youngster once, there’s no denying he could work his magic once again – this time allowing Mantato to thrive and fight for a place in the first team.

It may be a risk to include such a young talent in the senior setup, but as seen during his time at Sporting, his high risk has produced high rewards, with the youngster potentially allowing the supporters to forget about missing out on the Portuguese star.