Setting their sights on a rising star, Manchester United are now reportedly preparing a formal move to sign an alternative to Carlos Baleba, who has a release clause worth £74m.
Ruben Amorim admits “good to hear” INEOS support
Back to domestic action following the international break, Man United travel to face Liverpool in an attempt to upset the odds and compile their rivals’ recent misery.
Victory would mark the first time that Ruben Amorim has secured back-to-back wins in the Premier League, and three points at Anfield would also see his side reach league win number 11 of the Portuguese’s reign.
While those stats are undeniably damning, the former Sporting CP boss retains the backing of INEOS and admitted in his pre-match press conference that it’s “good to hear” that support.
“First of all, I can feel it. It’s not just that thing that people talk [about], but I feel it in every day. And again, sometimes the pressure that I put on the team or on myself is so much bigger than them. I know that it’s going to take a while, but I don’t want to think like that.
“I said that last year. But of course, again, it’s really good to hear that. I think it helps also our fans to understand that the leadership understands that is going to take a while. But at the same moment, I don’t like that because we’ll give a feeling that we have time to work things out.
“So, I don’t want that feeling here in our club. Again, the most important thing is the next game. It’s good to feel the support, but we need to prove in football, especially in big clubs, that, every weekend, we are ready to win games.”
That support is likely to stretch to the January transfer window, in which the Red Devils could reportedly turn towards a rising star in the middle of the park, instead of the heavily-linked Baleba.
Amorim is personally very keen on the Brighton star and pushed to bring him to Old Trafford in the summer, according to Fabrizio Romano, and those links remain as the Red Devils pursue an “important” midfield signing for 2026.
Man Utd preparing formal move for Froholdt
According to reports in Spain, Man United are now preparing a formal move to sign Victor Froholdt from Porto in the January transfer window, with a mid-season deal for Baleba described as very difficult by the likes of Romano.
The impressive teenager reportedly has a release clause as high as €85m (£74m), but that has not deterred INEOS, who are determined to improve Amorim’s squad.
Dubbed “fantastic” by scout Jacek Kulig, Froholdt is enjoying quite the rise. Having only just joined Porto from Copenhagen in the summer, he’s already attracting even greater interest. Whether he moves on from Portugal so quickly after arriving remains to be seen, however.
Given United’s weakness in midfield, game time is unlikely to be an issue for the Dane despite his tender age and United should push to secure his signature if the chance comes their way in 2026.
Froholdt’s blend of youth, impressive form and physicality is turning heads at United, and he could be well-suited to the Premier League’s demands.
The teenager’s ability to break up play and quickly transition from defense to attack aligns with the fast-paced football United aim to play under Amorim, and Froholdt’s release clause means that there is even a way to bypass negotiations with Porto.
However, it would require a seismic investment from INEOs, and one that could represent a gamble considering his lack of experience.
