Ruben Amorim could copy Jurgen Klopp as Man Utd swap deal stance clear after £60m offer

Ruben Amorim could copy Jurgen Klopp as Man Utd swap deal stance clear after £60m offer

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim could take a page out of Jurgen Klopp's book as his side look to step up their business this summer following a fresh £60million offer

Ruben Amorim appears ready to follow Jurgen Klopp's lead when it comes to one player linked with a move to Man United (Image: Getty Images )

Manchester United aren't accustomed to taking their lead from Liverpool, but Ruben Amorim may do just that by swerving a move to sign Christopher Nkunku. The Frenchman is believed to be up for sale this summer after falling afoul at Chelsea, with the Red Devils among those said to be interested.

The Telegraph reported on Monday that United and Chelsea are "weighing up" a potential swap deal involving Nkunku and Alejandro Garnacho. Both players have seen their stock plummet at their respective clubs of late, with each being touted to move in the coming months.

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Garnacho, 20, fell out with Amorim towards the end of this season when he was dropped for key clashes against Tottenham and Aston Villa. And the Argentina international appears to have hinted he's ready to leave after posting an image of himself wearing a Villa jersey with Rashford's name and number on the back, having spent part of this term on loan in Birmingham.

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Nkunku, 27, had lofty ambitions after he joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig in 2023 for an eye-bulging £52million. However, the France international wouldn't be expected to fetch the same fee today despite scoring 14 times in 22 starts this season.

His career in England may have panned out differently had the boardroom brains at Anfield got their way. The Reds recruitment team identified Nkunku as a likeable target during his time in Germany.

However, The Times reported Klopp stepped in to insist his side signed Darwin Nunez from Benfica instead. The manager got his wish, though many might wonder if Nkunku would have been the superior signing given Nunez's struggles in front of goal.

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And Amorim, 40, could conduct a similar hijack as United step up their interest in Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo. That's after seeing an initial offer of £45m plus £10m in add-ons rebuffed by the Bees.

Christopher Nkunku was linked with Liverpool before Klopp diverted their attention elsewhere, and United could do the same (Image: Getty Images )

The Red Devils have now returned with a second bid totalling £60m for the Cameroon international. Amorim has already added Brazil international Matheus Cunha to his squad this summer but appears adamant to continue strengthening his options in attack.

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Despite missing out on European qualification for the coming campaign, United's spending power doesn't appear to have been dented as badly as some predicted. Or at least the club isn't shying away from lavish expenses, confident in their ability to balance the books via other means.

Amorim hasn't wasted much time in attempting to put his own imprint on the team during his first summer window at the Old Trafford helm. And adding Mbeumo to his selection would represent another statement signing given the player could well hold out for a team playing among Europe's elite next season.

United are understood to have submitted a new offer for Bryan Mbeumo worth £60m (Image: Offside via Getty Images )

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Any pursuit of Nkunku could be seen as more appealing given the implication that it would help offload Garnacho. However, that would still require a significant piece of negotiation as the two deals would have to be treated individually, rather than a straight swap.

In any case, United's follow-up bid for Mbeumo appears to suggest he has caught Amorim's eye as the more desirable target. And if that is the case, it would illustrate the Portuguese's powers of persuasion, not unlike former Liverpool boss Klopp.

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