Ruben Amorim will be given ‘a reduced budget’ after Erik ten Hag’s £200m-plus summer splurge – as Man United chiefs ‘name the two players they hope he can get the best out of’

Ruben Amorim will not be handed a transfer warchest to turn Manchester United around and instead will be tasked with squeezing more out of an underperforming squad.

His predecessor Erik ten Hag made signings to the tune of £600million but with Ineos continuing to tighten the pursestrings at Old Trafford, there is little desire to rip up a squad that only recently made additions to the total of more than £200m.

Amorim has arrived as ‘head coach’, the first in United’s history, and it is part of an overhaul to the structure led by CEO Omar Berrada, director of football Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.

While he will, over time, have the chance to bring his own players in, internally the feeling at United is that there are players at the club that can produce far more than they have shown so far. 

There is also hope that even more senior members of the squad can squeeze out more from their game with fresh coaching from Amorim and redefined roles in a new system.

Manuel Ugarte, who United spent £50.8m on in the summer, has worked with Amorim at Sporting previously, while teenager Leny Yoro, signed for £52m, is seen as a high potential player having joined amid fierce competition from Real Madrid and Liverpool.

The Red Devils spent over £200m on stars like Manuel Ugarte (left) and Joshua Zirkzee (right)

United chiefs hope Amorim can get the best out of Rasmus Hojlund (left) and Mason Mount 

Mason Mount, signed for £55m, and Rasmus Hojlund, signed for £72m, have also been earmarked as players who Amorim can take to the next level.

2024 has been a year of major upheaval for United with major changes to the hierarchy after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £1.3billion minority takeover, and the sacking of Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff.

As a result, United, who have averaged close to five new signings ever summer across the past 10 years, are keen to bring stability to their squad in a bid to bring on-pitch success.

Additionally, there is increased pressure on United to further balance the books beyond this year’s significant number of job cuts and ending Sir Alex Ferguson’s £2m-a-year ambassadorial contract.

Over the past three seasons United have posted losses before tax of £312.9m and Ineos and the footballing board must continue to be creative to improve on-pitch performance while reducing costs to ensure they comply with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules and UEFA’s financial sustainability regulations.

Amorim took charge of training for the first time on Monday with Kobbie Mainoo, who has not played since the 0-0 draw to Aston Villa in early October, part of the group.

The Portuguese head coach will take charge of his first game as United boss on Sunday away to Ipswich Town.