RUBEN AMORIM has suggested Manchester United will enter the market for a new centre-back in the summer.
Speaking to media ahead of the Europa League final, Amorim gave injury updates on crocked defensive duo Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt.
Yoro was seen crying as he limped down the Old Trafford tunnel with a foot injury when he was replaced early in the second half against West Ham.
Meanwhile, De Ligt has not featured since going off injured against Brentford at the start of the month.
Those knocks, along with injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Ayden Heaven, have left Amorim short of options at the back once again.
And it has forced the Portuguese boss to ponder over whether he will need to add another central defensive recruit to his already extensive summer shopping list.
He said: “Leny was the same as Mattha. I was thinking about next year, the squad if we need another guy, if it is a long injury.
“That is my concern. It is not just about the final. Of course I want every player fit.
“But Yoro in his foot… he had that problem. I was so concerned about the next season, the next squad, the way we build up the squad.
“That was my biggest concern. The rest will be ready for the final no matter what.”
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Asked additionally about risks to other stars like Luke Shaw, Amorim added: “Yeah, it was clear we cannot take a risk in several players, that was to save especially in that kind of position.”
Speaking about the five-day gap from them facing Chelsea on Friday night to Tottenham in the final next Wednesday, Amorim suggested he was yet to decide on a complete XI in Bilbao and would consider the context of the next result.
He said: “The best way is to face the game like we should face the game, it is to win the game, we need to perform…
“The only way I know how to prepare a final is, in the normal game for our league, we must play the same way as a final.
“We have to try to recover, the best thing to prepare the final is to play the game and then the players have to understand if you play or don’t play against Chelsea, it means nothing to the final.
“That is important. I am just preparing for the Chelsea game. That is my focus. We want to win and we want to perform.
“I don’t know. I know the starting XI I am thinking for Chelsea and then I will see.
“Even the way we play there against Chelsea I will see it and it will be important for the next one.”
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