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Manchester United are undergoing a major squad overhaul under the INEOS regime as the Red Devils try to assemble a squad fit for Ruben Amorim’s playstyle.
The Portuguese manager arrived from Sporting CP after having significant success with five trophies in four and a half years, determined to bring his 3-4-3 system to Old Trafford, with his full coaching staff joining him in the process.
Unfortunately though, after a year in the role, United are still yet to see consistency on the pitch with results, still yet to win back-to-back games since Amorim took charge.
In a bid to help Amorim restore the club to its former glory, the United recruitment team have been working to assemble a shortlist of stars to fit his playstyle, with a complete remodel of The Red Devils’ attacking line-up this summer.
However, with a squad overhaul and new players coming in, naturally other players fall down the pecking order, which is exactly what has happened with Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee.
Now, ESPN has reported that the pair are preparing to have talks with United ahead of the winter transfer window, with the main focus being the duo’s lack of game time.
Towards the end of the summer, Kobbie Mainoo explicitly asked to go out on loan in a bid to get more gametime, however his request was rejected with United wanting him to fight for his place in the squad at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile Joshua Zirkzee still holds considerable interest from Serie A, and after seeing Rasmus Hojlund go on loan to Napoli and absolutely thrive, there’s no real surprise that the Dutch striker is also considering his options, swaying towards leaving the club.
Both players have been dropped by their national squads over the last year, which is a major issue for the pair seen as the national sides are currently fighting for their places at the 2026 World Cup.
As such, game time is everything to players right now, but their departure would still need to be agreed by United, something which may prove to be a problem despite neither of the pair starting in this year’s Premier League campaign.
United risk ending their incredible run of having an academy player in every matchday squad since October 1937 should they get rid of Mainoo, something that Amorim has clearly said he doesn’t want to do.
However, more than the streak, the report explains that sources close to the situation say United still regard the pair as key members of their squad, even if their time on the pitch has been limited of late.
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