Manchester United have struggled in the 2024/25 Premier League season, and Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils may look to bolster their squad in next year’s summer transfer window as a result
Micah Richards has predicted a major overhaul at Manchester United, with up to six new signings on the horizon for 2025.
After a rocky start to the 2024/25 season that’s seen them struggling in the lower half of the Premier League table – even since the sacking of Erik ten Hag by INEOS in late October after a series of disappointing results – the Red Devils are looking to rebuild. Ruben Amorim, who took over the reins but has yet to make a significant impact, may be backed with a hefty transfer kitty to mould the squad to his high-energy playing style.
Ex-Manchester City defender Richards shared his insights on Amorim and the United team with Gary Lineker during an episode of The Rest Is Football back in November. After watching Amorim’s first game in charge against Ipswich end in a 1-1 draw, Richards told Lineker: “So he wants to play high-energy, he likes his midfield two to be really aggressive. It looked good didn’t for the first 10 minutes? They looked alive, they looked sharp. All the things that you thought. I was getting excited and then it just went flat.”
Richards also expressed doubts about United’s January transfer activity, suggesting they may well need to wait until the summer of 2025 to spend big once again after an expensive spree under Ten Hag just a few months ago. “I don’t think he’s going to get the players that he wants in January,” Richards added.
“But I think in the summer we’re going to see five or six players come in. I was a little bit disappointed in the showing, and that’s not the manager. Obviously the manager needs time to implement his style, but it was almost like a fizzy drink I expected so much, they started so well, then it just fizzled out a little bit.”
Richards emphasised the need for manager Amorim to shape his squad over time, while former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer highlighted the particular challenges faced by United’s midfield, pinpointing what isn’t achievable for those Amorim has at his disposal. Shearer said: “For a start, he’s got an ageing midfield hasn’t he? He played Casemiro and [Christian] Eriksen.
“It would be nigh-on impossible for those two to do what he wants in terms of the press and the high energy, and the sprints, and the running and everything else.”
This concern appears justified as the team has seen a string of losses continue under Amorim – Nottingham Forest, Arsenal, Tottenham and Bournemouth have all beaten United since the Portuguese head coach’s arrival.
Old Trafford welcomed an abundance of new players this summer, including Leny Yoro from Lille, Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna, Manuel Ugarte from PSG, and Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich. That busy summer saw United splash out around £200m, reports the Manchester Evening News.
However, it seems that the team is still missing some key elements, such as a dedicated striker and more depth in midfield. Sporting CP hitman Viktor Gyokeres has been mentioned as a potential addition, but bringing him back together with Amorim could be an expensive move, particularly in January. If Marcus Rashford is sold, though, that could help raise funds for new recruits in the immediate future.
Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
