Amorim asks Manchester United to sign one man for 50 million! Don't poach the Portuguese body and dig up the sworn enemy, the new and old owners win-win

Ruben Amorim has reportedly urged Manchester United to sign Benfica's young centre-back Tomás Araújo in a move market that will require competition with Chelsea. The Red Devils will definitely need to buy another centre-back next year, as Evans is about to turn 37 and Maguire and Victor Lindelof's contracts are about to expire.

Araujo has become an absolute mainstay for Benfica and Chelsea are considered to be the favourite with the young centre-back and have opened talks with the Lisbon Eagles, while United are now looking to cut it off. According to The Sun, Amorim has put Araujo on United's list of scouts and will discuss with the hierarchy on Friday whether there is a chance to bring him in.

Amorim was clearly unhappy with United's existing centre-backs, having replaced two authentic centre-backs in the starting line-up in a 3-2 win over Bodø in the Europa League, De Ligt and Lisandro Martinez, without even a real centre-back on the pitch at the end. After the 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town in the opening game, he criticised veteran centre-back Evans by name.

United have clearly not been able to play the tactics Amorim wants, making it clear: "Yes, I'm anxious because I don't know what's going to happen. You know, because you can't control anything right now. We try to see different things and, of course, we have our own ideas for each game, but I don't know the players well enough and we don't have a lot of collaboration. So on the one hand we were excited to go and see something different, but at the same time, you were a little bit anxious and nervous because you didn't know how the game was going to develop."

Naturally, there is Everton's England international Jaalard Branthwaite on the shortlist for United's new centre-back, but his price tag is high. The 22-year-old Araujo is expected to be able to complete the deal for £50 million, despite liquidated damages of up to €100 million.

Araujo, who has been selected for the Portugal squad, has made 37 appearances for Benfica's own youth team and is part of the champions' team, winning the Portuguese Super League title in 2023. Chelsea tried to bring him in this summer window, but failed, and Crystal Palace and Ligue 1 Paris Saint-Germain also kept an eye on him.

Former Tottenham Hotspur star Vertonghen believes Araujo can become a world-class centre-back, with whom he has partnered Benfica. "If he continues in his current form, in a year or two he will be one of the best defenders in the world," the Belgian defender said.

United have previously been linked with Sporting Portugal's two centre-backs, Inácio and Diomande, but Amorim has promised no poaching for at least January. If he signs a player from former arch-rivals Benfica instead, the Portuguese fans will be cheering him on again, even showing up the huge thank you Amorim poster from the farewell war. In addition to Araujo, Benfica's former Manchester United left-back Alvaro Fernandez Carreras could also be a target for Amorim, with the Red Devils having a €20 million clause to buy him back.

In the Portuguese Super League standings, Sporting is at the top of the table with 11 wins, Porto is second with 27 points, and Benfica is only third with 25 points, but with one round less, it is still a major title rival for the Lisbon Lions.

Benfica's tactics are not exactly the same as those of Sporting, but they often play in a three-centre-back formation, so bringing in their defenders gives them the opportunity to adapt to Amorim's style of play with ease.