Ruben Amorim told he can transform Man Utd star into ‘Rodri-esque’ midfielder | Football

Ruben Amorim has been urged to consider moving Leny Yoro into a midfield role to solve Manchester United’s woes in the middle of the park.

United spent £200million rebuilding their attack with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko brought in as Marcus Rashford, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho were shipped out.

The club left it late, but also made a move to solve their problems in goal with Senne Lammens joining from Royal Antwerp on transfer deadline day.

But despite their big spending, United did not sign a midfielder this summer.

While there is firm interest in Carlos Baleba, Brighton’s huge valuation in the excess of £100million placed him out of the club’s reach. Alternative options were explored but United will persevere with the options of Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo until January at the earliest.

Those options already look light with Fernandes not a natural central midfielder, Casemiro one year older and Ugarte enduring a poor start to the season. Mainoo meanwhile has been told he is in direct competition with Fernandes for a place in the team.

Sir Alex Ferguson once turned to Rio Ferdinand to move further up the pitch during an injury crisis with former Premier League star Robbie Earle suggesting Amorim should try a similar experiment involving Yoro.

Speaking on The Two Robbies Podcast, Earle said: ‘He [Amorim] has got a find a way to close things down. I had a thought, because we’re saying, “OK, you need to go and buy one [a midfielder]”, and Baleba was talked about. And again, I’m just chucking this out there, is there anybody else in that group that can help them?’

‘Could Leny Yoro play in midfield, as a holding player?’

Earle listed United’s defensive options of Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, Ayden Heaven and Lisandro Martinez when he returns from injury with Luke Shaw and Noussair Mazraoui also capable of playing in a back three.

The former Wimbledon star suggested there could in theory be room to move Yoro further forward and play a role similar to the one Rodri plays for Manchester City.

‘[Yoro is] an athletic midfielder who can see danger, who would track runners, who would understand the role, who can play in midfield.

‘I’m not saying he’s a solution, but he might plug a gap next to Bruno, or if it’s not Bruno, Ugarte, or Mainoo.

‘We keep seeing Man United and see players running off them. Leny Yoro would have the understanding. be more interested in running back and following than running forward.

‘Is there somebody Rodri-esque? You’ve got to find a solution.’

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