Ruben Amorim's strongest Manchester United team means transfer priority is obvious

Much has been made about Ruben Amorim's formation in recent days.

The incoming Manchester United manager has been wedded to a 3-4-3 for much of his managerial career, deploying that shape to great effect while in charge of Sporting Lisbon. The 39-year-old is expected to deploy that system at Old Trafford having officially taken over this week.

It means there is plenty of speculation surrounding who will fit where and whether some of the existing squad will have a natural home. Amorim is intelligent enough to work with what he has rather than shoehorn square pegs into round holes, but the likelihood is United will, sooner or later, line up in a 3-4-3 or a variation of.

ALSO READ: How Ruben Amorim's strongest United line-up could look with return of injured duo

ALSO READ: Ruben Amorim can turn one player Erik ten Hag didn't want into United's most important

Amorim's set-up is built on a defensive foundation but with a ball-playing and progressive back three. He values possession, something that perhaps comes easier in Portugal where Sporting were often heavy favourites, while he has flexibility in attack with two number 10s and a striker willing to run and work hard.

His Sporting side often attacked centrally and in numbers while relying on the wing-backs to provide an alternative outlet, with numbers in the box a mainstay of their offensive strategy.

And it is those wing-backs that is perhaps prompting the biggest selection debate at Old Trafford. United do have players to slot into a back three, even if it not a set-up many will be used to, while the attacking spots and central midfield options have plenty of options available.

But at wing back, it is a different story. Diogo Dalot has been short of form this