Exclusive: Rúben Amorim Wants Zeno Debast Back from Sporting – But Manchester United Face Fight to Land £50m Wonderkid

Ruben Amorim is keen on a reunion with Zeno Debast, but understands he could miss out on the centre-back with competition for his signature rife, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The Portuguese coach was the man who took the Belgian wonderkid to Sporting Lisbon ahead of last season. 

Our sources understand Amorim is in the market for a new centre-half.

It is understood that the player will be the long-term replacement for Harry Maguire, who Amorim wants to keep at Old Trafford.

Maguire’s future at the club has been hot topic in recent years amid a catalogue of errors.

But Amorim sees Maguire as the perfect experienced head to take a young centre-back like Debast under his wing and to help mould him into a Premier League, and more importantly, a Manchester United player.

Debast is only 22 and could prove a gamble, with fee of around £50million likely needed for Sporting to part with the player.

In other news, Manchester United are prepared to cut their losses on Joshua Zirkzee, with multiple Serie A clubs lining up to take the Dutch forward.

Utd to Miss Out?

It is understood that Red Devils’ bosses are unwilling to spend big in January after parting with around £250million in the summer.

And that means Amorim could miss out on his top defensive target having been told to wait until the end of the season. 

Debast emerged on Liverpool's radar as a potential alternative to Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi if Arne Slot misses out on his man for the second window running. 

Aston Villa have previously been interested in the player, with Arsenal also linked with making a swoop for the talented youngster.

Real Madrid have also tentatively expressed an interest and are among a number of clubs who have sent scouts to Portugal to watch the player.