Ruben Amorim will discuss signing a player Chelsea are “in love with” in a meeting with Manchester United officials on Friday, according to a report.

Man Utd recorded the first victory of the Amorim era on Thursday evening by beating Bodo/Glimt 3-2 in the Europa League. The United manager rotated a lot during the competition, including in defense where The Sun Amorim’s first signing in the upcoming January window could take place.

It is claimed that Amorim are hoping to strengthen their defensive ranks and a move for a Primeira Liga player will be sought.

But rather than attack Sporting CP, Amorim would help his former team by signing one of the best players from bitter rivals Benfica. In doing so, Amorim could also prevent Chelsea from strengthening their own rearguard.

Right-handed central defender Tomas Araujo is the player in Amorim’s sights. The Portuguese international for selection is also in high demand Chelsea.

Indeed, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano recently revealed: “Chelsea is actively monitoring the central defender market. Let’s see if it will be January, let’s see if it will be summer.

“It is not guaranteed that it will be in January because in the last days of the summer transfer window, Chelsea were considering signing a new central defender. For example, a player they are in love with is Tomas Araujo at Benfica.

“They were considering moving him, but nothing happened because Benfica did not sell an important player a few days before the end of the transfer window. Now I can confirm to you once again that they are monitoring the market. They are following the players.

But by The SunAmorim hopes to deny Chelsea and also help Sporting in one fell swoop. It says “Amorim has a meeting with Old Trafford decision-makers on Friday and will discuss a move for Araujo.”

LEARN MORE: Seven Primeira Liga players Ruben Amorim could sign for Man Utd: Gyokeres, Carreras…

Man Utd shouldn’t have to pay a giant release clause

Araujo’s existing contract at Benfica contains a release clause worth €100m (£83m/$106m).

But according to the report, Man Utd believe the more modest sum of £50m could be enough to twist Benfica’s arm.

Araujo has been described as the “best prospect” in Benfica’s academy since Ruben Dias, who won four Premier League titles with Manchester City.

Araujo primarily plays at centre-back, but has shown his versatility by occasionally playing at right-back for Benfica this season.

As such, it is likely that Araujo will be deployed on the right of Amorim’s back three if he is brought to Old Trafford.

Detailing the features that allowed Amorim and Man Utd to ‘line up a £50m move in January’, The Sun concluded: “He is 1.80 m tall, is a good passer of the ball and is physically strong, with a lot of room for improvement.”

Latest Man Utd news – Mazraoui, Hojlund, Hargreaves

Elsewhere, Amorim described Noussair Mazraoui as “incredible” while insisting the versatile defender is “the future” of Man Utd.

Another player who seems to be loving life under the new manager is Rasmus Hojlund. The striker created Alejandro Garnacho’s goal against Bodo/Glimt with his energetic pressing and scored twice to secure a 3-2 victory.

Speaking after the match, Hojlund revealed that the switch to a 3-4-3 formation – which he played at his former club Atalanta – suited him well. Hojlund too revealed what Amorim asked United stars to do regarding their pressure.

However, expert Owen Hargreaves wasn’t so positive when delivering a sobering assessment of Amorim’s formation.

In Hargreaves’ mind, Man Utd will be too easy to face if they stick to a two-man midfield against the bigger teams like Arsenal and Manchester City.

“I don’t think he has the personnel he had at Sporting,” said Hargreaves.. “I think if you want to play two in there (midfield), they have to be two super-athletes and cover the distances.

“I’m not sure they have it as such. I think they have some very good players, different players, but he might have to adjust things so that maybe one of the No. 10s comes in and one of the full backs gets a little bit higher up for width.

“But I think playing two-on-one against an Arsenal or a (Manchester) City, I think it’s going to be really, really difficult.

“I think it’s a work in progress, we have to be patient but we’re getting there.”

HEADLINES: Who is Tomas Araujo?

By Samuel Banister

Benfica’s academy has produced some of the best centre-backs in recent years, including Portuguese internationals Ruben Dias (now at Manchester City) and Antonio Silva.

The next talented player to emerge from Benfica’s talent factory is now Araujo, who was rewarded with his first senior international cap in November.

Araujo has been playing under Benfica since 2016, when he was just 14 years old. He started playing for their B team in September 2020 and his first team debut followed in December 2021.

To give him a chance of less gradual progression, Benfica loaned Araujo to Gil Vicente, also in the Primeira Liga and participating in the Europa Conference League, for the 2022-23 season. There he made 26 appearances and scored once.

Araujo has since returned to Benfica, making 20 appearances last season (including three times in the Champions League) and 13 times so far this season. He operated as either a central defender or a right back, although the former was his preferred position.

Having represented Portugal at all age levels, from U15 to U21 and now also as a senior player, the youngster is establishing himself at a high level and attracting interest from many clubs.