BBC pundit Micah Richards believes Manchester United could sign up to “five or six” players next summer.

Speaking on the Rest Is Football podcast, the former Manchester City defender said he wasn’t overly impressed by the Red Devils’ performance against Ipswich Town and he thinks Amorim will demand a major overhaul of the first-team squad:

“I don’t think he [Amorim] is going to get the players he wants in January, but I think in the summer, we are going to see five or six players come in now. I just believe that. I was a bit disappointed in the showing [against Ipswich].”

“That’s not the manager – he needs time to implement his style. It was almost like a fizzy drink. I expected so much; they started so well, and then it just fizzled out a bit. On another day, Ipswich could have scored four or five.”

Amorim needs players that fit his system

The current United squad isn’t really suited to a 3-4-3 formation. There are players that can play wingback but there are no specialists.

It is a similar situation in the front three where Amorim went with Marcus Rashford leading the line at Portman Road, with Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho either side of him.

With the possible exception of Garnacho, it really isn’t a natural fit for any of them and it is likely why they produced so few scoring opportunities versus Ipswich.

Who could United sign in the summer?

A left wingback is a top priority, with Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies, Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez and AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez all said to be under consideration.

Options on the opposite flank are also being explored, with reports in Portugal confirming Fabrizio Romano’s claim that the Red Devils are fans of Amorim’s former player Geovany Quenda.

Reinforcements in the middle of the park are likely too, especially if both Christian Eriksen and Casemiro leave at the end of the season.

Find out who is in Manchester United’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here