Sunderland starlet Jobe Bellingham is one of the players Manchester United are targeting ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.
Ruben Amorim is eager to strengthen his Manchester United squad ahead of his first full season in charge next term.
The Reds plan to make several signings once the current campaign concludes, while also offloading players who are not part of Amorim’s long-term plans.
Unlike previous years, United are steering away from high-profile, big-money transfers. Instead, the club is adopting a more strategic approach, focusing on signing younger talents with the potential to develop into world-class players.
The arrivals of Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu and Ayden Heaven in January reflect this shift, with several summer targets already identified by the INEOS-led leadership.
Jobe Bellingham sends Amorim perfect message about United role
Jobe Bellingham has been linked with United for several months now. UtdDistrict revealed in December last year that the club are planning to materialise their interest and sign the midfielder in the summer.
The teenager has impressed United’s recruitment staff and it seems like he fits the right profile of what the club are looking for in Amorim’s squad.
United’s new head coach has consistently mentioned about profiles and the importance of getting the correct players into the club. Laurie Whitwell from the Athletic has explained that United are looking for an “energetic box-to-box” midfielder in the summer window.
“I’m hearing noises about central midfielders, in terms of energetic box-to-box, and obviously a striker. So they’re going to have to weigh up where their priorities lie,” the journalist told the Inside United podcast.
This is the exact kind of role which Bellingham enjoys playing the most, as he previously explained, which suggests he could be a great fit for what Amorim wants.
“I know playing box-to-box is what I enjoy the most, because you can get stuck in and drive forward,” Bellingham told Sky Sports in December 2023.
“I can show more of what I’m capable of in that position, but I do think I have a good skillset as a striker or a No.10. I have an internal desire to score goals, because it’s something I want to do. But it has never come from anywhere else. It is a healthy pressure. A motivation.”
United most avoid recruitment mistakes
United’s problems over the last decade can mostly be attributed to the poor recruitment at the club and there is a focus to improve in that department.
Sometimes, players are unsuccessful at Old Trafford and it isn’t necessarily to do with their talent but instead their suitability to the group.
“The recruitment I think is crucial,” Amorim said last month. “We need to improve the team. We need to perform better, we need to be in Europe and not in our position during the season.
“We have an idea. For me as a coach, we need to be a better team and to recruit better and don’t make a lot of mistakes in that department.”
Whether or not United can actually avoid those mistakes is yet to be seen, but it is clear that they are aware of the need to improve in their recruitment.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 12:30 pm (GMT) on the United View YouTube channel.