Rúben Amorim has pushed to block a January exit for two Manchester United stars, and one current player is unlikely to play for the club again.
After winning three games in a row, Manchester United look like they’ve finally found form and momentum this season after a shaky start to this Premier League season.
United now sit in sixth, just two points behind second-placed side Bournemouth, meaning that the goal of Champions League football, which many dismissed after the start to the season, could now be an achievable target.
Having signed a new front three in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Šeško, the trio looks like they’ve gelled with the rest of the side, with Amad and Mbeumo particularly linking up well on the right side.
As a result of the success of the front three, captain Bruno Fernandes has featured deeper in Amorim’s side, lining up as a number eight, rather than as a number ten, where he has thrived since joining from Sporting Lisbon.
As a result of the lack of European competition, crashing out of the Carabao Cup, and the success of the new front three, several players have found themselves limited to substitute appearances, and ahead of the World Cup next summer, many of them may be looking for game time away from Old Trafford.
Departures for Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee blocked
After picking up an injury towards the end of last season, Joshua Zirkzee missed all of United’s pre-season preparations and has been limited to just 90 minutes so far this season.
Kobbie Mainoo, on the other hand, had a loan request turned down by the club, but has yet to start a Premier League game so far this season.
With both likely to push for moves away in January to play more minutes ahead of the World Cup, they will most likely get the chance to showcase their ability when the Africa Cup of Nations gets underway towards the end of December.
United will be left without their top scorer, Mbeumo and Amad, while Noussair Mazraoui is also expected to receive a call-up by Morocco.
As reported by The Sun, Amorim spoke on the possibility of Mainoo and Zirkzee leaving in January, saying: “I also know that in our club everything is a lot of noise. You have to have news. Players are not playing. They want to play. There’s a World Cup.
“There are agents that listen to the players talking all the time.
“I understand that, but they are our players and we need everyone to have a good season.”
The Africa Cup of Nations runs from the 21st of December until the 18th of January 2026, and should any of United’s stars go all the way to the final with their respective nations, they will miss six Premier League fixtures, including the Manchester derby.
Tyrell Malacia unlikely to play for Man Utd again
The outlet also reports that after being reintegrated into the first team training squad last month, Tyrell Malacia, part of the ‘bomb squad’, is unlikely to play for Man Utd again.
With his contract expiring at the end of this season, it is extremely unlikely that his deal will be renewed, and a move for the left-back could even be sanctioned in January to recoup any kind of fee for the 26-year-old.
For the first time in a year, Malacia was named on the bench against Brighton, not picking up any minutes. With Amorim so adamant that the left-back isn’t in his plans, it’s strange that he got given the spot on the bench, rather than an Academy talent such as summer signing Diego León, also a left-back.
Having been Erik ten Hag’s first signing when he took over in the summer of 2022, Malacia’s time at Man Utd was ultimately one filled with misfortune, having shown glimpses of talent before undergoing a major knee operation in the summer of 2023. When he returned 500 days later, it was clear to see that he wasn’t the same player he was before the injury lay-off, before being sent out on loan for the rest of the season.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 12:30 pm (BST) on the United View YouTube channel.