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FOOTBALL 17 July 2026 ยท 14:20 BST 5 min read By Tom Marshall

Manchester United prepare late-window move for Sporting's Geovany Quenda

Sporting's 19-year-old winger is on a three-man shortlist as United try to land a direct, left-footed wide player before the European window closes. The Sporting asking price, the structure of the deal and what it means for Marcus Rashford's role are all on the page.

TM
Tom Marshall Football correspondent

Sections

  1. The shortlist
  2. The fee and the structure
  3. What it means for Rashford
  4. The Sporting view
A crowd at Old Trafford during a Premier League match
United have been working the late window since the Fernandes deal collapsed.

Manchester United are preparing a formal offer for Sporting's Geovany Quenda, the 19-year-old Portuguese winger, before the European transfer window closes on 31 August. United have had Quenda on a three-man shortlist since May, alongside Eintracht Frankfurt's Omar Marmoush and Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma.

The shortlist

United's recruitment team, led by the new sporting director, identified Quenda as the primary target after a six-week scouting process that included four live viewings and two detailed video reports. The scout who compiled the report described Quenda as 'the closest profile to a young Cristiano Ronaldo' the club has seen in a decade - a comparison that should be treated with caution, but one that captures the player's directness and ball-striking ability.

Marmoush remains a serious alternative. The Eintracht Frankfurt forward has a wider variety of skills in the final third and would give United more flexibility in the front line. Mitoma is the third option - a different profile, more of an inside forward than a wide player, but with proven Premier League experience.

The fee and the structure

Sporting's asking price for Quenda is 60 million euros plus 15 million in add-ons. United's opening offer is 45 million euros plus 10 million in add-ons, with a sell-on clause of 15 percent. The two clubs are 15 million euros apart on the fixed fee, and the negotiation is expected to go to the final week of the window.

Sporting's asking price for Quenda is 60 million euros plus 15 million in add-ons. United's opening offer is 45 million euros plus 10 million in add-ons.

What it means for Rashford

The arrival of Quenda would have a direct impact on Marcus Rashford's role. The England forward has been United's first-choice left winger for the past four seasons, but the new manager has been open about his desire to add more directness to the position. Quenda is a left-footed right winger by trade, but the scouting report suggests he can play on either flank.

If United sign Quenda, Rashford is likely to be moved into a more central role - either as a second striker or as a No 10 - or used as a rotation option across the front line. The change would be the most significant tactical shift of the new manager's tenure.

We have to be brave in the window. The squad needs more directness, more pace, more variety. Quenda gives us all three.
- United sporting director, in a club statement

THE PLAYER

Geovany Quenda, 19, Sporting CP and Portugal U21. 1.84m, left-footed, primarily a right winger. 8 goals and 6 assists in 28 Primeira Liga appearances last season. Contract until 2028 with a 90 million euro release clause.

The Sporting view

Sporting are under no pressure to sell. Quenda's contract runs until 2028, and the release clause is set at 90 million euros. The Portuguese club would prefer to keep the player for another season, but they are realistic about the financial scale of the Premier League and the difficulty of replacing a player of Quenda's profile in the current market.

The Sporting head coach said in a press conference on Friday that Quenda is 'committed to the project' but acknowledged that 'in football, you cannot close doors'.

Editor's verdict

This is a deal that will go to the wire. United need to add directness and pace to the front line; Quenda is the right profile. The fee is the question. Sporting will not sell for less than 55 million euros total, and United's recruitment team has a budget of around 50 million. The compromise will be in the add-ons - and the sell-on clause that gives Sporting a piece of any future sale.

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The wider context

The European summer transfer window closes on 31 August. Premier League clubs have spent a combined 2.8 billion pounds so far this window, with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City the biggest spenders. Manchester United have been among the quieter buyers, with the club's new sporting director signalling a more disciplined approach to the market.

Geovany Quenda is one of the most sought-after young wingers in European football. The 19-year-old has scored 8 goals and added 6 assists in 28 Primeira Liga appearances for Sporting CP last season. He has also been a regular for the Portugal U21 side. His contract runs until 2028, with a release clause of 90 million euros.

The move would represent a statement of intent from United's new sporting director, who took over in March after a comprehensive review of the club's recruitment process. The new director has prioritised signings under the age of 23 with a clear development path to the first team.

If United sign Quenda, Marcus Rashford's role would change significantly. The England forward has been United's first-choice left winger for the past four seasons, but the new manager has been open about his desire to add more directness to the position. Rashford would likely move into a more central role or used as a rotation option across the front line.

CONTEXT AND WHAT COMES NEXT

What else to know

Why this story matters

The story matters because it sits at the intersection of two of the most-watched competitions on the COMESPORTSBUZZ calendar. The combination of the venue, the form of the key players and the tournament context means the outcome will have implications for the rest of the season.

The desk will continue to follow the story through the next match, the next round and the rest of the season. The next live update will be filed as soon as the next session of play begins. The next verdict will be filed inside 30 minutes of full time.

What to watch next

The next session starts at 09:30 IST. The key matchup to watch is the contest between the two captains, with both sides needing a win to consolidate their position in the standings. The desk will publish the predicted XI at 09:00 IST and the toss report at 09:30 IST.

The post-match press conference is scheduled for 18:00 IST. The desk will publish the key quotes inside 15 minutes of the conference ending. The desk will also publish the editor verdict inside 60 minutes of the conference ending.

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