Manchester United have been forced to abandon their pursuit of defender Nuno Mendes and look elsewhere after he signed a contract extension with Paris Saint-Germain.
Ruben Amorim's only signing since taking charge at Old Trafford in November has been Patrick Dorgu, who was brought to the club with expectations that he would be used on the left side of his back five.
The Red Devils boss has moved away from the back four that previous boss Erik ten Hag used but has struggled to implement his style of play since coming to England.
United lack many of the profiles needed to effectively play the Portuguese's style, with the likes of Diogo Dalot struggling as a wing-back.
However, reported target Mendes has signed a contract extension with PSG until 2029, and the news means that the Red Devils will have to look elsewhere for reinforcements.
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Who could United sign instead of Mendes?
Dorgu was used as a right-wing back during United's controversial 2-1 win against Leicester City in the FA Cup on February 7 despite being naturally left-footed.
If Dorgu is used on the left in the future, Amorim could look to target someone like Sporting Lisbon's Geovany Quenda to play on the right.
The 17-year-old often featured on the right in the early stages of the 2024-25 season before Amorim left the club to join United, but he has also been used on the left this season and could provide extra versatility in defence and attack.
Quenda recorded a top speed of 33.6 km/h in the Champions League this term, making him the fifth-fastest player at Sporting in Europe so far, and his immense speed could be useful when United try to overload opposition defences.
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Does Amorim have too much to do in the summer transfer market?
United have encountered issues this season when facing physically aggressive opponents, with the likes of Newcastle United and Bournemouth earning victories against them this term.
While signing Quenda could help provide extra speed in wide areas, the team have looked sluggish in midfield and in defence, and the wide centre-backs have at times been exposed.
Additionally, Harry Maguire has arguably been one of the team's best performers in 2024-25, but he will be 32 in March and has suffered several injuries in the past seasons.
The centre-back may need to be replaced sooner rather than later, but question marks also persist about the future of strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, who only have a combined total of five goals in the league.
Given that the Red Devils could have to look for improvements in several departments in the upcoming summer, Amorim may have to prioritise particular transfers and get by with a less-than-ideal squad in 2025-26.
Lewis Nolan
