Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is targeting Sporting CP’s Francisco Trincao as a key part of his planned summer team overhaul.
Amorim, who has faced a challenging start to life at Old Trafford, sees Trincao as an important attacking reinforcement. The potential reunion stems from Trincao’s current form in Sporting, where Amorim has previously managed him.
The Portuguese international has a £50 million release clause, with Barcelona receiving 50 percent of any future transfer fee.
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Reports claim that Sporting want to recover at least £35 million for their precious asset, which is above what is perceived to be the player. That was certainly the case for Wolverhampton Wanderers when they loaned Trincao from Barcelona in 2021.
Despite high expectations, the striker was underwhelming at Molineux, scoring just four goals in 30 games.
As part of the deal with Barcelona, Wolves had to pay £5 million to avoid exercising the purchase option.
Trincao’s journey began at Braga, where he made his debut in 2018 and celebrated a Taca da Liga triumph in 2019-20. His £26 million transfer to Barcelona in 2020 was a significant milestone, followed by his loan spell at Wolves in 2021.
In 2022, he joined Sporting CP, initially on loan, before making the move permanent in 2023.
This season, he has already contributed eight goals and 12 assists in 26 league appearances, and the 25-year-old is a full member of Portugal’s national team squad, with ten caps and two goals since his senior debut in 2020.
Amorim’s pursuit of Trincao is part of a wider vision to reshape United’s squad, with as many as 10 players potentially on their way out.
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Sporting CP hesitant to part ways with Trincao, especially with growing interest in their star striker, Viktor Gyokeres.
Moreover, Gyokere’s promising understudy, 19-year-old Conrad Harder, is drawing attention from clubs like Chelsea after an impressive nine-goal tally this season.
Before any transfer decisions unfold, United will concentrate on their upcoming clash against Nottingham Forest at The City Ground, followed by the Manchester derby against City.
