Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has hinted that the club may look to sign a new centre-back during the summer transfer window.
Speaking to the media ahead of the Europa League final, Amorim provided updates on the fitness of key defenders Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt, raising concerns for the club`s depth.
Yoro sustained a foot injury against West Ham United and was visibly upset when he was substituted in the second half.
De Ligt, meanwhile, has not played since suffering an injury against Brentford earlier in the month.
These recent setbacks, combined with existing injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Ayden Heaven, have left Amorim with limited defensive options.
Consequently, the Portuguese coach is now evaluating whether adding another central defender should be a priority on the club`s summer transfer list.
Amorim stated: “Leny`s situation was similar to Mattha`s. My thoughts immediately went to next year, to the squad – do we need another player if it`s a long-term injury? That`s what concerns me most. It`s not just about the final; of course, I want everyone available. But Yoro`s foot… he had that issue. My biggest worry was about the next season, how we build the squad. That was the primary concern. For the final itself, everyone else will be ready regardless.”
When asked about managing the fitness of other players like Luke Shaw, Amorim confirmed:
“Yes, it was clear we couldn`t risk certain players, especially in those positions. That was about protecting them.”
Discussing the short turnaround between facing Chelsea on Friday night and the Europa League final against Tottenham on Wednesday, Amorim indicated his final lineup for the Bilbao match was not yet decided and would depend on the performance against Chelsea.
He explained: “The best way to approach this is to play the game as we should – to win, to perform… The only way I know how to prepare for a final is to treat the normal league game beforehand with the same seriousness. We need to focus on recovery, and the best preparation is to play the game. The players must understand that whether they play against Chelsea or not has no bearing on the final. That`s crucial. My sole focus right now is preparing for the Chelsea game. We aim to win and perform well. I don`t know the exact starting eleven [for the final] yet. I know the one I`m considering for Chelsea, and then I will see. How we play against Chelsea will be important for the next match.”
