New Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has insisted that he must always have "the final word" when it comes to the club's recruitment.
Man United now have a specialist team in the football department at the club, including CEO Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox, with all three having major roles when it comes to the buying and selling of players.
However, Amorim, speaking during his first press conference as Man United head coach on Friday, opened up on the importance of having "the final word" on recruitment, with the 39-year-old believing that he is in "a strong position" to make the final call.
"I think it has to be all together. Because if you are a coach that is coming here and already chose the players he could be wrong. Because this is a football club that will be here for a long time and you as a coach don't know that," Amorim told reporters when questioned on the recruitment strategy following his arrival.
"Everybody has to work together and for that we have to improve the process on recruitment, the data, the profile of players we want. But I have to have a strong position on that because I am the coach, I know how to play, so I think it's all together but the final word should be the manager.
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Amorim says he 'has to choose the players' at Man United
"Not just because it's your right but your responsibility. Because in the end, the result is to me, so I think it's all together improve the process of recruitment. I have to understand the league - that is important - and when everything is aligned, all the ideas, everybody is on the same page, we can buy and sell players.
"I'm saying here it's not the final (word) but I have a great responsibility when we choose players because this is something that should be done this way. I'm the manager, the head coach, so I have to choose the players."
Man United have been linked with a number of Sporting Lisbon players since it was confirmed that Amorim would become Erik ten Hag's permanent replacement at Old Trafford.
Viktor Gyokeres, who has scored 23 goals in 18 matches for Sporting this season, is thought to be the club's leading striker target, while 17-year-old Geovany Quenda is also believed to be high on their wishlist.
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Gyokeres, Quenda among Sporting players linked with Man United
Sporting are allegedly expecting Man United to make a move for Quenda next year, with Amorim believed to view the Portuguese as the perfect player to operate in the right-sided wing-back role at Old Trafford.
Quenda came through the Sporting academy as an attacker, but he has been developed into a wing-back by Amorim, with the teenager proving to be one of the breakthrough stars in Europe this term.
As well as Gyokeres and Quenda, Ousmane Diomande is being heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, and it has been claimed that Amorim has already spoken with the 20-year-old about a possible move to Manchester.
Man United will only have limited funds in January due to financial restrictions, but it is believed that the club could attempt to bring in a new striker on a short-term basis, with Paris Saint-Germain's Randal Kolo Muani said to be a genuine target.
Matt Law
