Rúben Amorim is reportedly open to seeing two of his forgotten Manchester United players depart Old Trafford this summer, according to reports.
Rúben Amorim’s plans for Manchester United are beginning to take shape as the 39-year-old focuses on building a squad capable of competing for Premier League titles.
Weeks of training and five matches across domestic and Europa League campaigns have allowed the players to adjust to Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, while he continues to assess their strengths and address areas for improvement.
Read More: Ruben Amorim urged to sign ‘one of the best’ Premier League stars at Man Utd to replace £180,000-a-week duo
United are also laying the groundwork for their 2025 transfer plans, prioritizing summer recruitment due to financial constraints in January.
With sporting director Dan Ashworth no longer at the club, recruitment efforts are now led by director of recruitment Christopher Vivell and technical director Jason Wilcox, working closely with Amorim to meet the squad’s needs.
Double January exit
According to GiveMeSport, United and Amorim are open to the idea of selling Antony and Christian Eriksen in January in order to free up space and funds to improve the squad.
It is said that there is a “growing possibility” that the pair will be departing in the early part of 2025, with neither player having been able to have much of an impact at the club under Amorim.
With Antony and Eriksen’s combined wages hitting around £350,000 a week at the club, this would free up significant funds as the club look to reinvest and provide reinforcements for Amorim in January.
Antony’s one start under Amorim has come as a right-wing-back, but Amad Diallo has shone in the position ever since. Eriksen’s contract is expiring in June 2025, making January the final window in which the player can be sold.
Antony must go
“Manchester United might have to bite the bullet and cut their losses with Antony in January, because I don’t think he has the attributes to contribute to what Ruben Amorim wants,” former United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen told Lucky Block.
“I find it difficult to see where he fits into this team. I think he’s been one of the biggest misfiring transfers in the Premier League in recent years.
“He’s another example of a player who comes from the Dutch league – which I know really well – where you can win seven out of ten games with two fingers up your nose and you don’t have to break a sweat. In the Premier League, you have to be absolutely top class in every game you play.
“I think the biggest thing that has held Antony back is his own personality – he’s got certain characteristics that don’t sit very well with some of the other players. Away from that though, there’s a lack of effectiveness as a player – he’s very predictable in the way he wants to cut in on his left foot.
“We hardly see any quality assists or chance creation from him and I think we could see him elsewhere by the end of January.”
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