Two Man Utd stars set for January transfers despite Ruben Amorim sacking

Two Manchester United players are closing in on moves away from Old Trafford but Ruben Amorim outcast Kobbie Mainoo is set to stay at the club.

United are scrambling around to find both short and long-term replacements for Amorim after sacking the Portuguese coach on Monday.

Former midfielder Darren Fletcher has been placed in charge of the side on an interim basis and will be in the dugout for Wednesday’s clash against Burnley.

United are expected to appoint a caretaker manager until the end of the season, which could still be Fletcher, before confirming Amorim’s permanent replacement in the summer.

Manchester United finished just 15th in the Premier League last season and have continued to flatter to deceive under Amorim this term.

Amorim also fell out with United director of football Jason Wilcox in the days prior to his dismissal, with one of the issues surrounding the club’s lack of activity during the January transfer window.

The club are believed to have told Amorim not to expect huge backing in January after they bolstered his squad with more than £200m of signings last summer.

But Amorim felt January signings were needed given United’s injury issues and the fact several players are still at the Africa Cup of Nations.

United academy graduate Mainoo has been heavily linked with a move away from Old Trafford due to his limited role under Amorim.

Once one of the most promising players in the Premier League, Mainoo has barely featured under Amorim and asked to leave Manchester United last summer and again ahead of the January window.

It was unclear whether Amorim would sanction Mainoo’s exit this month but the 20-year-old will definitely be staying now there has been a change in the dugout.

More than a dozen clubs expressed interest in signing Mainoo in January but the Daily Mirror says he will stay put and look to revive his United career under a new manager.

Shortly after Amorim’s sacking, club legend Rio Ferdinand named Mainoo as the ‘biggest winner’ from the change.

‘There’s no doubt in my mind that Kobbie Mainoo will be walking back in the building today with a bouncing step,’ he said on his YouTube channel.

‘He’ll be walking in because there’s always losers in this, which will be the manager and his staff who have worked hard.

‘No-one likes to see people lose their jobs. But there are going to be winners and Kobbie Mainoo will be one of those guys who has a chance now, his fortunes could change.’

Joshua Zirzkee, in contrast, looked set to be offloaded to Serie A giants Roma, either on loan or a permanent transfer.

Ex-Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag brought Zirkzee to Old Trafford in a deal worth almost £40m but the Netherlands international has flopped in the Premier League.

Keen to make his nation’s World Cup squad next summer, Zirkzee is believed to be open to a January move to secure more game-time and end a difficult period in Manchester.

Zirkzee was already struggling for game-time before United spent almost £200m on three attackers last summer – Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

The 24-year-old has shown glimpses of his potential recently – scoring in the 1-1 draw with Wolves and providing an assist in the 1-1 draw at Leeds – but that does not appear to have been enough to extend his United career.

Owen Hargreaves, the ex-United midfielder, appeared to urge his former club not to let Zirkzee leave in the aftermath of Sunday’s draw at Leeds.

‘Every time he plays, I think he makes something happen,’ Hargreaves said on TNT Sports. ‘I think he’s a good ball player.

‘When he gets on the ball, he makes things happen. I think he’s a smart player. He’s a ball carrier, and he made a huge difference on this side.

‘He opens things up, he gets into good positions. He allows you to do that because they get bodies up there in numbers, and he gave the team technically something which they didn’t have in the first half.

‘[Patrick] Dorgu was playing in that position, but that’s not his game. He’s a left-back or a left wing-back. Zirkzee had a big impact on the game.’

Another player seemingly heading for the exit door at Old Trafford is Manuel Ugarte, who has attracted interest from Galatasaray.

Reports in Turkey claim Ugarte, another underwhelming Ten Hag signing, has agreed personal terms with Galatasaray, who are now preparing to go to Manchester United to discuss a deal.

Earlier this week, Nicky Butt said Ugarte was ‘not a Manchester United midfielder in a million years’.

‘The manager [Ruben Amorim] said something yesterday about Manuel Ugarte doing well,’ Butt said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.

‘Ugarte is not a Manchester United midfielder in a million years. Not in a million years he’s a Man United midfielder.

‘That’s just one example of the recruitment and how they keep getting it wrong. They keep getting it wrong all the time with the players they’re bringing in and that’s a fact.’

If Manchester United do make a January signing, it will likely be a central midfielder, although mid-season deals for Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba or Elliot Anderson look unlikely.

Amorim was also desperate for the club to sign at least one new wing-back but that will not be a pressing concern for United’s next manager.

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