Manchester United are now set to make an offer worth £34m for an "immense" defender, as Ruben Amorim believes he would be the ideal player to strengthen his backline, according to a report.

Man Utd looking to strengthen in all areas

A lack of goals was the real problem for Man United last season, finding the back of the net just 44 times in the Premier League, so it is little wonder that they have now set out to sign a new striker, having identified a number of targets.

However, after finishing 15th in the Premier League, very few players are likely to be safe, with Atalanta star Ederson being targeted to strengthen the midfield, while the Red Devils are also racing Tottenham Hotspur for Genoa centre-back Koni De Winter.

United are already relatively well-stocked in the centre-back department, but with Lisandro Martinez still recovering from an ACL injury, it could be worth bringing in another option, and they now plan to make a bid for one of Amorim's former players.

That is according to a report from Football Transfers, which states Man United are set to propose a loan deal for Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio, which would include an obligation to make the deal permanent for a fee of €40m (£34m).

Amorim clearly holds Inacio in very high regard, with the manager viewing him as the ideal player to strengthen the Red Devils' backline, and an official bid could be made soon.

Sporting have previously been hesitant to sell the centre-back, but they could now be willing to listen to offers, and United should be well-positioned to win the race, despite interest from Borussia Dortmund, given Amorim's pre-existing relationship with him.

"Immense" Inacio could be solid signing for Man Utd

Analyst Raj Chohan has singled the Sporting star out for high praise in the past, lauding him as "immense", and the defender put in some impressive performances en-route to his side securing the Liga Portugal title last season.

The 23-year-old, who shares the same agency as Bruno Fernandes, was one of the most consistent performers in the squad, averaging a 6.97 WhoScored match rating, while also showcasing his ability on the front foot by picking up three goals and two assists.

Journalist Zach Lowy claims that Amorim has "worked miracles" with the Almada-born defender in the past, and he has now gone on to gain more top-level experience, having established himself as a 16-time Portugal international.

As such, Inacio could be a solid signing for Man United, but their main priority should be to bring in a new striker, given that they struggled considerably in front of goal last season.