Manchester United celebrate 4-2 victory over Brighton
Man United will be considering player sales in the January transfer window after spending £170m in the summer
Ruben Amorim’s side is flying high at the moment, having won their last three games in the Premier League. They are up to sixth after beating Brighton 4-2 over the weekend, leaving many United fans hoping the club has finally turned a corner under Amorim.
However, the Man United boss won’t be satisfied just yet, as he will have aims to finish in the top five come the end of the season. Should United manage that, they may want to strengthen Amorim’s squad in January, but will likely need to sell first. United spent over £170m in the summer, and so may need to generate more funds by letting players go.
Both Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee have been linked with leaving the club, as their roles under Amorim have significantly reduced. It is understood that both players want to leave, but it may be the case now that United don’t let them go, according to new reports.
Why Manchester United won’t sell Zirkzee and Mainoo in January
The big issue that the Red Devils have is that their squad depth isn’t huge this season, despite them being lucky with injuries so far. However, the Africa Cup of Nations begins in December, and so they will expect to lose Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo with Morocco, Ivory Coast and Cameroon all featuring in the competition.
Mainoo and Zirkzee’s roles could increase significantly during AFCON in order to help cover the departed players, meaning that a January exit could be blocked by United for both players. AFCON ends in January, so there could be a chance of a late January sale, but if they impress in their increased roles, then there’s no reason why Man United would sell them.
Zirkzee has been most heavily linked with a transfer away, as several Serie A and Premier League clubs are interested. Roma are reportedly the front-runners in Italy, and West Ham in the Premier League. The Hammers are desperate to add more firepower up top as they battle against relegation.
Man United could sell Mainoo if they sign Anderson or Gallagher
The difference with Mainoo is that United are looking to sign a defensive midfielder to replace Mainoo. Firstly, Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher has been linked with a move to Old Trafford. United reportedly want to sign him on loan, but Madrid would like a permanent sale for the former Chelsea star.
Furthermore, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson has also been linked to United, alongside Man City, too. Anderson is expected to cost around £70m, and Forest will certainly be reluctant to sell the England international. It could be a difficult deal to get across the line in January, so it may be the case that United stick with Mainoo for now.
Mainoo did request a loan move in the summer transfer window, but United refused, despite Amorim’s reluctance to play him. That refusal may well have been because of AFCON, as United may have been planning for it for several months.
Continue Reading