Manchester United is open to the possibility of signing Sporting winger Geovany Quenda, even with the recent addition of Patrick Dorgu from Lecce.
In November, United representatives met with prominent agent Jorge Mendes, whose Gestifute agency is now negotiating on behalf of the 17-year-old Quenda and his representative. United has been scouting Quenda since his debut for Sporting in August, and reports suggest Mendes has acquired half of Quenda’s image rights.
At 17 years old, Quenda and the 20-year-old Dorgu are both left-footed players. Dorgu made his debut in the wide-right position against Leicester City, a role that Quenda previously filled under coach Ruben Amorim at Sporting this season.
Looking ahead, Dorgu is expected to be utilized primarily on the left side, as United’s head coach Amorim seeks attacking wingers to support the striker in upcoming matches.
United has already loaned Tyrell Malacia to PSV Eindhoven, who hold an option to buy him this summer. Additionally, there are questions surrounding the future of fellow left-back Luke Shaw.
Shaw has not started a match for United since February 18 of last year and has made as many appearances for England as he has for United during that time. Recently, he faced another setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury that has kept him out of action for over two months.
Although the 30-year-old is contracted with United until 2027, it’s uncertain if the club will accept another injury-riddled season from Shaw, who has only played 18 club matches since August 2023.
Sources from both the club and agency dismissed rumors from Portugal last week that United intended to secure Quenda on transfer deadline day.
This season, Quenda has started in 18 of Sporting’s 21 league matches and played in all eight of their Champions League games, contributing two goals and seven assists.
The Portugal international has transitioned from the right wing to the left wing following Amorim’s departure from Lisbon in November, with Sporting now adopting a 4-3-3 formation under new coach Tiago Aguilar. Amorim’s successor, Joao Pereira, was dismissed after just eight matches.
Pereira maintained Amorim’s back three system, but Aguilar has shifted to a back four, occasionally deploying a second striker alongside the prolific Viktor Gyokeres.
Quenda, born in Guinea-Bissau, joined Sporting from Benfica’s academy at age 12. He was included in the club’s matchday squad by Amorim as a 16-year-old last year and has drawn comparisons to Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka.
Mendes has a long-standing relationship with United, dating back to Cristiano Ronaldo’s first stint at the club in the 2000s. He represented David de Gea throughout his 12 years at United, facilitated Bruno Fernandes’s transfer to the club in 2020, and oversaw Ronaldo’s return the following year.
United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward was seen embracing Mendes in the directors’ box before Ronaldo’s second debut against Newcastle United in September 2021.