The English Premier League season is already halfway through, with Liverpool leading the pack, Arsenal expected to falter as usual, Chelsea making a strong comeback, Manchester City experiencing a dramatic decline, and Manchester United replacing their manager, Ten Hag, mid-season. The new manager, Amorim, seems to be sinking deeper into trouble. Following Ten Hag's departure, the problems associated with his transfer strategy have begun to surface and explode. Players like Anthony and Mount were acquired for more than double their market value, while players like Zirkzee and Malacia struggle to perform even as starters on average teams. Hojlund and Jolo show potential but require continuous training and significant room for personal growth. Experienced players like Casemiro, Weghorst, and Evans are temporary solutions that cannot fundamentally solve the team's issues. Ten Hag's loyal players, such as De Ligt and Lima, have notable technical weaknesses and cannot guarantee reliable results for the team.
It could be argued that Mourinho's era presented the best opportunity for Manchester United's transformation. However, the club's management was short-sighted, supporting troublemakers and forcing out the Portuguese coach, missing the chance for change. Subsequently, the club's problems became increasingly pronounced and sharp, accumulating to a point where they cannot be resolved simply by changing coaches or bringing in one or two new players. The market value of these overpriced, mediocre signings has severely diminished, making it difficult to offload them even at half price, stalling the team's rebuilding efforts.
Therefore, the young Portuguese coach faces a heavy task. Despite his superior tactical concepts and ambitions, the effects will not be immediately evident in the short term. The team's owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has warned Amorim that funds for the winter transfer window are limited. Unless he can provide a convincing reason, he may have to wait until the summer transfer window for new reinforcements. In essence, the message is: "Limited funds, these are your players, figure it out!" This leaves Amorim scratching his head, as this is indeed a tough situation to handle.
With Marcus Rashford sidelined due to the "leak scandal," and Zirkzee and Hojlund unable to ensure offensive firepower, Manchester United urgently needs to bring in a powerful forward during the upcoming January transfer window, or risk missing out on European competition next season. Juventus' top striker, Vlahovic, is a target for Manchester United.
Vlahovic has proven his abilities at both Fiorentina and Juventus in Serie A. The 24-year-old Serbian international is a sought-after player in the market, with his contract set to expire in 2026. However, he has not signed a new deal in Turin, leaving his future uncertain. Juventus hopes to sell the Serbian at a slightly lower than market price; currently, Vlahovic's transfermarkt value is 60 million euros.
Arsenal has also had a long-standing interest in Vlahovic, but Manchester United holds a clear advantage. Zirkzee, a Manchester United player, is highly regarded by Juventus coach Motta. The Italian coach has a manual for using the Dutch forward, and they had an impressive collaboration during their time in Bologna, which is why Zirkzee joined Old Trafford.
Zirkzee struggles to adapt to Amorim's tactical system and appears to be pretending to be a professional player in the Premier League. He has only scored 3 goals in 18 appearances this season, which does not match his 30 million-pound transfer fee to Manchester United. Given this awkward situation, Manchester United wants to offload Zirkzee, while Juventus coach Motta wishes to reunite with his beloved player. This shared interest makes the transaction involving Vlahovic more feasible.