Manchester United boss in battle to sign “spectacular” UCL winner

Manchester United have finally found some form under Ruben Amorim and are improving every week in the Premier League.

The Red Devils are currently sixth in the top-flight table after securing four wins from their last five fixtures, putting them ahead of current champions Liverpool and level on points with Manchester City.

It has been a huge turnaround in performances, as Amorim came under significant pressure to be the next manager to lose his job at Old Trafford after a poor start to the season.

However, it now looks as though the progress and tactical plan are starting to pay off, with recent wins against Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion building confidence in both the project and the manager.

Still, there is a long way to go to determine whether this represents a genuine turnaround in the club’s trajectory and if they can maintain consistent performances throughout the campaign, as we have not yet reached the halfway mark.

There have long been concerns about the club’s recruitment strategy, and this summer Manchester United spent heavily once again in an attempt to get the squad back on track.

Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško represent fresh attacking options for Amorim to deploy following the departures of Rasmus Højlund and Marcus Rashford on loan, and the sale of Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea.

So far, the new trio have impressed with Mbeumo, in particular, shining in recent performances and beginning to look like the key impact player he was at Brentford last season.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe will no doubt be pleased with the team’s recent form after investing in and trusting that Amorim is the right man to take United back to their glory days.

However, this week it has been reported that the pair have differing views on one potential transfer move that would capture the attention of football fans around the world.

According to The Mirror, Amorim is keen to sign Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski when he becomes a free agent next summer.

The Polish superstar is renowned for his goal-scoring prowess and, like many, the United manager has long admired the idea of working with him – even in the latter stages of his illustrious career.

It is claimed that while Amorim is eager to take advantage of the striker’s free-agent status, Ratcliffe is reluctant to bring in another ageing big-name player.

The minority shareholder, who has become the club’s public voice since his arrival, is determined not to repeat the mistakes of the past and, for that reason, would not currently sanction the move.

There is no doubt that many clubs will be monitoring Lewandowski’s situation at Barcelona, and if he does become a free agent in 2026, there will be plenty of suitors ready to snap him up.

However, United have become known for such signings backfiring in recent years, with examples including Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani and Raphaël Varane.

That said, Lewandowski remains one of the most prolific goal-scorers of all time and would undoubtedly improve United’s attacking output, provided he stays fit, particularly if the club qualifies for the Champions League next season.

Despite turning 38 this summer, the UCL winner – once hailed as “spectacular” by former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández – has already scored four goals in seven league appearances this season, averaging a goal contribution every 86 minutes.

Only Mbeumo has matched that tally in the Premier League for United, so there is certainly an argument to be made about the influence Lewandowski could have on their attacking threat if Amorim were to convince Ratcliffe to sign him.

While it might appear to be the bargain of the decade to secure the Poland international’s services for free, he is currently earning an eye-watering €400,577 per week with the La Liga giants.

Committing to that level of salary would not be a surprise for United, who have previously spent heavily on wages, but if the club are genuinely seeking to move away from that culture, it may not be a viable option.

Even so, Lewandowski’s future will undoubtedly be one of the most talked-about transfer stories of 2026, and it will be fascinating to see whether Manchester United choose to get involved, depending on how their current campaign unfolds.

Rebekka Arnold is an experienced writer with a strong background in digital media, PR and football journalism.

Since 2021, Rebekka has written opinion pieces and match reaction content for Football Fancast, part of the Snack Media network, building on her growing presence in the football community through viral Twitter content and podcasting.

Now at Transfer Tavern, Rebekka brings her sharp eye for analysis and deep passion for the game to deliver engaging football opinion and breaking transfer news content.