Why this forgotten factor could make Manchester United’s pursuit of Geovany Quenda easy

Manchester United’s summer pursuit of Sporting CP star Geovany Quenda could receive a massive boost due to this forgotten factor.

Quenda, 17, has been the subject of recent conversations within Old Trafford about a potential summer move reports The Athletic’s David Ornstein.

The report in The Athletic notes that despite discussions between the two clubs having yet to take place, a move for Quenda would cost approximately £33.4 million.

If United are to step up their interest in Quenda, it is expected that no discussions between the two clubs will take place until after the close of the current transfer window.

A move for Quenda would also indicate a continued focus of Manchester United to target the recruitment of younger talent, following the arrivals of Chido Obi-Martin (17), Ayden Heaven (18) and Leny Yoro (19). As well as the expected arrival of Patrick Dorgu (20) from Serie A side Leece.

It would also see the seventeen-year-old wide player reunited with his former manager United boss Ruben Amorim.

Who is Geovany Quenda?

Handed his professional debut for Sporting CP just 95 days after his seventeenth birthday, it was then-Sporting and now-Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim who brought Quenda into the first team. Amorim’s trust in Quenda would see him named in the matchday squad weeks before his 17th birthday for Sporting’s Europa League group stage match against Atalanta in March of last year.

Joining Sporting’s youth system from Benfica aged 13, Quenda was predominately used as a winger. However, under Amorim Quenda would be used on both flanks as a key part of his wing-back system.

Seen as a perfect fit for the system due to his explosive pace and adaptability, Quenda would represent a desire for United to go all in on Amorim’s system.

With a summer move now on the cards, Amorim had told reporters in the days following his appointment as Manchester United boss that he would not be signing any players from Sporting in the winter window. But, he admitted that he, “did not know” if the same would apply in the Summer window of 2025.

If Quenda was to join United, he would be the fifth name to do so from Sporting. Previous names brought from the Portuguese capital to Old Trafford include Bruno Fernandes, Marco Rojo, Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The huge transfer boost Manchester United will receive

With any potential move that would see Quenda join the Red Devils not set to take place until this summer at the earliest, Manchester United could be able to secure a deal whilst maintaining a positive cash flow.

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This is due to Chelsea’s obligation to purchase Manchester United forward Jadon Sancho for £25million at the end of this season when his loan deal at the club concludes. Whilst this is less than the £33.4 million United are expected to spend on securing Quenda’s services, there is also the matter of United no longer paying Sancho’s wages.

Sancho, who has a contract running with the Red Devils until June of 2026, is reportedly amongst the club’s top earners.

With multiple sources indicating Quenda’s current contract at Sporting comes to less than £10,000 a week, a move for the wide player could see a major shift in United’s outgoing on player wages.

Whilst a pay increase for Quenda would be inevitable should he join Manchester United, it would be incredibly unlikely his salary would hit the same heights of Sancho’s. This is further indicated by recent reports that confirmed Patrick Dorgu will sign a contract worth just £30,000 a week at United.

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