Ineos plot Sir Alex Ferguson Man United transfer repeat that could land 'next Cristiano Ronaldo'

Manchester United were once one of the best in world football at snapping up the game's hidden gems and turning them into high-level Premier League players. However, that skill has somewhat dwindled in years gone by.

In the last decade, United have taken the plunge on several players in the hope of taking them to the next level. At a quick glance at some of the deals completed, the likes of Memphis Depay, Anthony Martial, Facundo Pellistri and Donny van de Beek all arrived with potential and failed to fulfil it.

Under Sir Alex Ferguson, United established themselves as a big player in the transfer market. Despite the occasional flop - Bebe, Gabriel Obertan and Nick Powell - Ferguson's recruitment of unknown prospects proved to work a treat.

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Wayne Rooney and Gerard Pique both signed in the summer of 2004 with Ji-sung Park arriving from PSV Eindhoven the following summer. United often dipped into the Portuguese market under Sir Alex with Anderson and Nani arriving in 2007 but the most valuable signing came in 2003.

The story of Cristiano Ronaldo's move to England is well-documented after impressing United and John O'Shea in a pre-season friendly. A fee of £12.24million was paid, an English record for a teenager at the time, and Ronaldo became one of football's greatest.

Now, fast forward 21 years and United are lining-up their next raid on one of Sporting's exciting prodigies. Sources have suggested that Geovany Quenda is on their radar following his displays in Portugal under new head coach Ruben Amorim.

Of course, he isn't at the level that Ronaldo was. Since being handed his senior debut by Amorim in August, Quenda has played every game for Sporting this season and impressed against Manchester City in the Champions League.

Ineos' £250m investment in the playing squad this summer means the budget available in the summer may be tighter. United may have to work in the transfer market with little wriggle room and the signing of a hidden gem like Quenda could be the sort of deal we see.

Amorim has already confirmed he won't be signing any Sporting players in January. So the summer window may be the opportunity to repeat the trick that brought Ronaldo to the club.