MU are targeting potential over ready-made stars, claims recruitment expert

Ruben Amorim would prefer to sign rough diamonds instead of ready-made stars to rebuild Manchester United, according to one of Portugal's smartest recruitment experts.

Regardless of whether United win or lose Wednesday's Europa League Final against Tottenham, yet another overhaul appears inevitable at Old Trafford with the club set for their lowest top-flight finish since 1974.

Diogo Boa Alma is one of Portugal's most respected sporting directors, thanks to his ability to spot talented players in the unlikeliest spots and turn them into multi-million pound assets.

Working at small clubs like Santa Clara and Casa Pia, Alma showcased this skill by selling players like Zaidu to Porto and Hidemasa Morita to Sporting Lisbon for about £7million combined, having signed them for nothing.

Amorim was in charge of Sporting when Morita moved there and Alma believes the coach's mid-season departure for Old Trafford may damage United's chances of signing players from Sporting, like star forward Viktor Gyokeres. He told Mail Sport: 'He would rather buy five or six players at a lower price than one player for £100m and build a team rather than investing everything in one or two signings.

'(Ipswich forward) Liam Delap would be a case in point, they will look for those players with affordable release clauses.

'I don't think he has the capacity to sign Sporting players now, also because the president of Sporting was angry when he left. They prefer to negotiate with other clubs and would ask a lot of money from United, so they would search in other places like they did with Patrick Dorgu.

'Amorim is a very good coach and if they give him time like we saw with Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, he will have success but it's impossible for the club to stay at the level they are now.

'When he speaks, he's quite different from most coaches. He is smart in the way he blames himself and includes himself in the process, rather than blaming the players.

'The fans respond well to that. They know he needs to improve and that what is happening now is not enough for a United coach.

'There was a period at Sporting where the team were under-performing and Amorim said he needed to do much better or he would be dismissed. It was received well by the fans. It's much better than blaming poor results on everyone else.'

Having watched numerous compatriots having success in England, Alma is keen to try his luck in the one of the world's most famous football countries.

From Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo to Cristiano Ronaldo and Bernardo Silva, Portuguese coaches and players have thrived in England and elsewhere. The country is one of the strongest exporters to the top five leagues and Alma has shown he has the credentials to continue that trend.

When he joined Santa Clara in 2015, they were struggling in the second tier. When Alma left six years later, they had finished sixth in the top flight, due greatly to his excellent work in the market. Spending rules have a huge effect on nearly every team, meaning a sporting director who can buy low and sell high is worth his weight in gold.

'I want to have a different challenge in a different league and the Premier League is the pinnacle for everyone who works in football,' added Alma, who speaks excellent English.

'I like England and the way you guys live there. The Premier League is the top and the Championship is a very good league. It's a dream for me.'