Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is targeting Sporting CP’s Francisco Trincao as a key part of his planned summer squad overhaul, talkSPORT understands.
Amorim, who has faced a challenging start to life at Old Trafford, sees Trincao as an essential attacking reinforcement.
The potential reunion stems from Trincao’s current form at Sporting, where Amorim previously managed him.
The Portugal international has a £50million release clause, but Barcelona will get 50 per cent of any future transfer fee.
Reports claim Sporting want to recover at least £35m for their prized asset, which could force United to pay over the odds.
That was certainly the case for Wolverhampton Wanderers when they loaned Trincao from Barcelona in 2021.
Despite high expectations, the forward was underwhelming at Molineux, scoring just four goals in 30 appearances.
As part of the deal with Barcelona, Wolves had to pay a £5m loan fee to avoid exercising their option to buy.
Trincao’s journey began at Braga, where he debuted in 2018 and celebrated a Taca da Liga triumph in 2019-20.
His £26m transfer to Barcelona in 2020 was a significant milestone, followed by that loan spell at Wolves in 2021.
In 2022, he joined Sporting CP, initially on loan, before making the move permanent in 2023.
This season, he has already contributed eight goals and 12 assists across 26 league matches.
The 25-year-old is already a fully-fledged Portugal international, with ten caps and two goals since his senior debut in 2020.
Amorim’s pursuit of Trincao is part of a broader vision to reshape United’s squad, with as many as 10 players potentially facing departures.
Yet, Sporting CP are hesitant to part with Trincao, particularly with burgeoning interest in their star striker, Viktor Gyokeres, from Man United themselves.
Moreover, Gyokeres’s promising understudy, 19-year-old Conrad Harder, is drawing attention from clubs like Chelsea after an impressive tally of nine goals this term.
Before any transfer decisions unfold, United will concentrate on their upcoming clash against Nottingham Forest, followed by the Manchester derby against City.
