Manchester United are conducting a search for a new manager, following the decision to sack Ruben Amorim earlier this week.
Amorim's reign lasted just 14 months, with the Portuguese coach overseeing the club's lowest league finish since 1974 last season. United will now appoint an 11th coach, including both permanent and interims, since Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013.
We've looked at the biggest issues the next man in charge must six.
Address an overdue midfield overhaul
Manchester United spent more than £200m on new signings last summer, in a window that saw the club prioritise their frontline. Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo all arrived for big fees, to inject threat into a side that struggled for goals in 2024-25.
However, the decision to overlook midfield reinforcements came back to haunt Ruben Amorim. The failure to sign a number six saw Bruno Fernandes spend large periods out of position, with Kobbie Mainoo out of favour and Manuel Ugarte underwhelming.
Casemiro continues to chug along, but the Brazilian will turn 34 in February and is contracted only until the summer.
At least one new central midfielder is required, either in this window or the summer. The likelihood is that multiple will need to be signed.
There's interest in Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, Crystal Palace youngster Adam Wharton, and Brighton's Carlos Baleba. Each would be a good place to start.
Reintegrate Kobbie Mainoo
There are few players more popular at Manchester United than Kobbie Mainoo. The problem for Mainoo, however, was that popularity did not stretch to the former manager.
Mainoo was viewed as a poor fit for Ruben Amorim's system. In Amorim's eyes, Mainoo was neither defensive enough for his pivot, not creative enough to be a ten. It has led to a stagnating spell on the sidelines, with the 20-year-old playing just 228 minutes of Premier League football this season, none of which have come from the start of a game.
Mainoo looks set to be one of the big winners from Amorim's exit. This is a player who shone after his initial introduction into the side as a teenager, enough to break into the England set-up ahead of Euro 2024. At the tournament, he took his chance again, featuring prominently as the Three Lions reached the final.
Midfielders of Mainoo's composure and potential do not grow on trees and he looks an obvious answer to an area of weakness in the side. Expect Manchester United's next manager to bring Mainoo back into the fold.
Sort Marcus Rashford's future
Another academy product ousted under Amorim. Marcus Rashford spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, before a season-long move to Barcelona last summer.
A break was needed for both club and player after a toxic period for the 28-year-old at Old Trafford, but could managerial change lead to a re-think on his future?
Rashford is happy in Spain, playing well, and enjoying himself away from the Premier League spotlight. But Barcelona's economic issues mean there is no guarantee the €30m purchase option will be triggered.
73 - Among players to have scored at least two goals in the Premier League in the last two seasons, the player with the best minutes per goal ratio under a manager is Marcus Rashford under Rúben Amorim (3 in 220 minutes, 73 mins per goal). Discarded. pic.twitter.com/XFpCuajS6Y
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 5, 2026
The new man in charge should gauge interest in a potential reconciliation for Rashford.
Clear out the deadwood
For all of the criticism Ruben Amorim faced during his time in charge, he did make progress in overhauling a squad that had consistently underperformed.
Jadon Sancho and Antony were both moved on after the disappointment of high-profile moves, while Alejandro Garnacho was sold, with his associates perhaps more problematic than his actual performances.
There remains, however, a core of players who look unlikely to feature in the rebuild. Decisions must be made whether to extend deals for Casemiro and Harry Maguire, each of whom are among those out of contract in 2026.
Elsewhere, permanent suitors need to be found for discarded loanees Andre Onana and Sancho.