Man United January exit thrown into doubt as 'no contacts' claim made following Ruben Amorim's sacking
Man United sacked Ruben Amorim not even one week into the January transfer window.
Man United’s January transfer plans may have taken a dramatic turn, as the Red Devils opted to sack Ruben Amorim just five days into the transfer window. Whatever Amorim wanted to do is now thrown out the door, and United will have their own plans about potential incomings and outgoings.
Amorim showed in the summer that if a player is no longer in his plans, then they can leave, as we saw Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund and more leave the club after they were placed into a ‘bomb squad’.
Two names haven't featured much under Amorim in recent months, with both Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee contenders for a January sale, as their roles within the squad had been significantly reduced.
Zirkzee’s exit is placed into doubt after Amorim’s sacking
Zirkzee had been linked with a move to Premier League rivals West Ham before Serie A side Roma really began to pull away as the front-runner to sign him. Talks had reportedly taken place, with the Italian club hoping to land Zirkzee on a loan-to-buy deal. Whereas, it was understood, Man United wanted a permanent deal.
However, now that Amorim is gone, Zirkzee could stay. According to Italian outlet Football Italia, ‘the situation is different’ following United’s change in manager. It is reported that ‘no contacts’ are in progress surrounding a potential January deal for Zirkzee to join Roma, so that door may now have closed.
Zirkzee has made 13 Premier League appearances for Man United this season, scoring just two goals and providing one assist. But the chance in the system from Amorim to Darren Fletcher could mean that another striker is required, which may be why the Dutchman could remain at United instead of joining Roma.
Mainoo could also stay following Amorim’s departure
Mainoo was the other player in line for a January exit under Amorim, as the English midfielder was not getting the game time he wanted, and has gone half a season without starting a single Premier League game.
In November, Mainoo requested a loan move away from the club in search of more game time, and it was understood that United could have opted to sell him permanently, with interest from Premier League rivals Newcastle, Chelsea, and Serie A champions Napoli.
However, now that Amorim has been sacked, Mainoo could finally get his chance to play regular football for United again, something that the fans at Old Trafford have been crying out for all season.
Under Erik Ten Hag, the 20-year-old became a mainstay in the United XI and was even England’s star boy at Euro 2024. You would have thought back then that he’d be nailed to make the World Cup squad, but that looks very unlikely, seeing as Amorim handed him very few minutes during his time at Old Trafford.