The Manchester United Rebuild: What's Needed To Compete Again?

Once synonymous with relentless dominance, Manchester United now feel like a club trapped in transition. Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013, they’ve cycled through managers, philosophies and hundreds of millions in transfers—but stability and success remain elusive.

Fast forward to the end of the 2024/25 season, Manchester United finished fifteenth. Yes, fifteenth in the Premier League. A negative goal difference and a Europa Conference League final loss to Tottenham Hotspur—United’s most bitter rivals this season in embarrassment.

The 2024/25 campaign will go down as the worst of Manchester United’s worst in modern memory. But amid the wreckage, change is finally underway. With Rúben Amorim installed as manager and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS operation reshaping the club from the inside out, United aren’t just talking about a rebuild anymore. They’re living it.

The question is: what does this overhaul actually need to look like?

2024/25 ✅
2025/26 🔜 pic.twitter.com/SUUGO0zpiR

— Premier League (@premierleague) June 4, 2025

Amorim Needs Trust Not Turbulence

Appointing Rúben Amorim marks a major shift. For once, United have hired a manager with a clear identity and track record of building from the ground up—rather than chasing a name to calm the headlines.

At Sporting, Amorim delivered a league title playing aggressive, structured, possession-focused football with a back three. He built around youth, developed talent, and implemented tactical discipline.

If this is to work, he must be given time and space to do the same at Old Trafford. That means alignment between recruitment, strategy and coaching—something that has been absent for far too long.

Back in the summer of 2020, Amorim had his first transfer window as Sporting boss, in which the club hierarchy backed him completely with a huge turnover of players.

The Portuguese side let 25 players leave the club that summer, which cleared out an underperforming squad and allowed youth and new signings to inject life into the team under Amorim, which quickly led to a league title.

Such a radical overhaul allows a manager to make the team his own very quickly, instead of having Erik ten Hag’s squad, in Amorim’s case. Therefore, Ineos must be looking at how Sporting managed to complete their turn around, and follow the example already set this summer by being ruthless and building a team made for Amorim.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already given Amorim unconditional support, and this summer, he can prove it with his actions by giving Wilcox and Amorim the keys to rebuild the squad as they see fit with plenty of young talents linked with arriving.

I keep seeing and hearing this rebuttal of Amorim not having a blank chequebook or having limited resources & will be stuck with these group of players.

This was his first summer window at Sporting who are far worse off than United when it comes to resources. Let him do his job. pic.twitter.com/0rpdqdgbaV

— Liban (@LibanLDN) May 25, 2025

A Proper Squad Reset

Touched on above and something that has been mentioned for years now is that this United Squad needs a serious reset. Too many players that aren't good enough, toxic for the team and sat on wages far too high for their contribution need to be moved on.

United must break their addiction to short-term stopgaps and instead create a tight, hungry group that fits Amorim’s system and intensity.

With the rebuild likely to commence this summer, United could look very different come September 1st. It is expected that the club could see at least 10 players depart United this summer.

But who could fall victim as Ineos gets brutal with their axing this summer?

Antony – Sell

Casemiro – Sell

Christian Eriksen – Contract Expiring

Jonny Evans – Retiring

Tom Heaton – Contract Expiring

Rasmus Hojlund – Sell

Victor Lindelof – Contract Expiring

Tyrell Malacia – Sell

Andre Onana – Sell

Marcus Rashford – Sell

Jadon Sancho – Sell

Luke Shaw – Sell

🚨 Marcus Rashford is willing to drastically reduce his salary to join Barcelona. 💙❤️

(Source: @marca) pic.twitter.com/jVGihbZsig

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) June 4, 2025

Targeted, Smart Recruitment

Amorim’s 3-4-3 system needs specific profiles: wide centre-backs comfortable in build-up, athletic wing-backs, a double pivot with range and discipline, and forwards who press as much as they play.

The club’s recruitment this summer must reflect that.

It's clear that United need to bring in a number of fresh faces for Amorim to work his magic this summer, but the club need to be smart this time around. Too many signings have been made for over-the-top money, whilst also being handed wages far too high. So the right personnel and smart business are key this Summer.

So far, Matheus Cunha has been brought in from Wolves for £62m, and a bid for Brentford's Bryan Mbuemo has been made in the last 24 hours. The starting bid is said to of been £45m with £10m in add ons.

The defence needs more depth, United used 15 plus different defensive combinations across the season. That stat alone captures the chaos.

Injuries to Martínez, Shaw, Malacia, and even emergency stand-ins like Jonny Evans forced Ten Hag—and then Amorim late in the season—into reactive lineups. To play a high line, as Amorim prefers, you need consistent pairings and chemistry.

Expect signings across all areas of the defensive line, but equally, expect a forensic look at medical and performance processes. INEOS are already auditing the entire structure—and they must act on what they find. Too often, United's campaigns have been undermined by avoidable breakdowns.

Midfield must also be addressed. Kobbie Mainoo was United’s brightest light last season, but he needs a physically dominant, tactically intelligent partner or a profile similar to Amorim’s former Sporting general, João Palhinha. However, Mainoo may be sold himself as the young English star hasn't quite found his role in the manager's system.

In attack, United can’t lean solely on Rasmus Højlund. A versatile, experienced forward is needed to share the load. There are whispers about a move for a pressing, mobile striker—someone who fits the structure rather than breaks it. This position is arguably one of the most important this summer, as in previous windows, The Red's have got it wrong time and time again when trying to find their main man up front.

🚨 Manchester United have submitted £45m plus £10m add ons proposal for Bryan Mbeumo.

Negotiations started, as @David_Ornstein reports.

Brentford ask for fee close to what Man United paid for Cunha — starting from £70m with possibility to negotiate. pic.twitter.com/ahB8bZj2Zr

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 4, 2025

Mental Reset

For all the technical and tactical issues, this United team has also suffered from a clear mental fragility.

Repeated collapses in winnable league games and a sluggish display in the European final all pointed to a lack of resilience. United don’t just struggle tactically—they fold psychologically.

Amorim’s Sporting sides were known for collective buy-in and belief. Recreating that culture at Carrington will take time, but it’s just as important as any new signing.

It hurts now but this club's history speaks for itself. We will be back. pic.twitter.com/pP35zCSXzd

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 21, 2025

Trust the Kids—But Support Them

The temptation now will be to build the team around Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho. Whether or not Garnacho remains at the club after his public comments about the team can be worked out with Amorim, but there is clear talent there. While both have shown maturity on the pitch beyond their years, relying too heavily on teenagers is dangerous.

They need help, not just in minutes and rotation, but in mentorship. Amorim’s style of football demands positional intelligence, something that comes with time and coaching. Protecting Garnacho from overuse, and ensuring Mainoo isn’t exposed when games get chaotic, will be critical.

Manchester United are known for producing academy players that make an impact on the first-team, however they need to be drip fed into a stable team with experienced senior players to learn from rather than being relied on.

The good news? Amorim’s track record with young talent is exemplary. But the club must insulate its best prospects, not lean on them to solve everything.

No More Delusions

This isn’t just a bad season. It’s a reckoning.

United can no longer pretend they’re close to competing. Not when they’ve just finished below Bournemouth, Wolves, and Fulham. Not when they’ve lost a European final to a Spurs team suffering from mirroring embarassment.

But amid the rubble, there’s an opportunity. Amorim is a coach who builds, not patches. INEOS are owners who want control, not chaos. For the first time in years, there’s a pathway that doesn’t involve nostalgia or PR wins.

The climb back to relevance won’t be quick. But if United finally commit to a true rebuild—with patience, purpose and people who know what they’re doing—then maybe, just maybe, the next chapter won’t look like the last.