Manchester United reportedly blocked Kobbie Mainoo’s potential loan move to Napoli during the recent transfer deadline.
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has indicated he is hesitant to sanction any player departures in the January transfer window without securing replacements.
Both Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee are reportedly seeking increased playing time in the latter half of the season. While Mainoo is said to still desire a loan move, Zirkzee has been linked with a possible return to Italy.
However, despite the anticipated return of key players such as Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo from injury, as well as Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui from the Africa Cup of Nations, Amorim believes the squad lacks sufficient depth to accommodate any reductions in numbers.
“It’s going to be hard for someone to leave the club if we don’t get a substitution,” he stated.
“We are short. Even with the full squad we are short for something that can happen.
“We are a club with a big responsibility. We are dealing with all these issues and in [the media’s] heads, in my head, in everybody’s head, we need to win every game. It doesn’t matter. There are no excuses.”
Amorim will be without seven senior players for the Boxing Day match against Newcastle.
Mainoo remains sidelined with a calf injury, while defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire are also unavailable.
Amorim has previously suggested that United might consider signing a player in January, although it is unlikely to be Bournemouth‘s Antoine Semenyo, who is reportedly set to join Manchester City instead.
Theoretically, bolstering the midfield as a replacement for Zirzkee or Mainoo could enhance United’s prospects as they compete for a European qualification spot in the second half of the season.
However, from a financial perspective, losing Mainoo might not be prudent, considering that any incoming player would likely command a significantly higher salary than the 20-year-old’s current earnings.
Unless Mainoo recovers swiftly, 18-year-old England youth international Jack Fletcher is poised to provide midfield competition for Casemiro, Mason Mount, and Manuel Ugarte during the Christmas and New Year period.
Yet Amorim is reiterating his stance that signing players should align with a long-term vision for the club.
“We are struggling in this moment, but the club has a plan and we are going to stick with the plan,” he said.
“If we have the opportunity to bring a player [in] that we think is going to be the future of the club, [he] is going to come. If not, we have Jack [Fletcher], we have Shea [Lacey] – in three weeks we’ll have Amad, Noussair and Bryan, and the return of Bruno and Kobbie Mainoo.”
Amorim did not provide any updates on the contract situations of Casemiro and Maguire, both of whom are eligible to engage in discussions with potential new clubs from January 1.
He believes Casemiro’s performances in training indicate that the Brazil captain will remain committed, even as he approaches the potential end of his United career, unless he accepts a substantial reduction from his £300,000-a-week salary.
Mainoo was initially expected to learn from the former Real Madrid player but has instead found himself competing with him for a place in Amorim’s midfield, a battle Casemiro has seemingly won.
However, despite facing repeated questions about his limited use of Mainoo, Amorim believes that the United academy product will ultimately represent the club’s future.
“Kobbie Mainoo [has] played in different positions,” he said.
“He can do [Casemiro’s] position. He can play if we play with three, he can play like we play in the last game [at Aston Villa].
“The position of Mason Mount in that game, he can play there.
“He is going is going to be the future of Manchester United. That is my feeling.
“He just needs to wait for his chance. In football, everything can change in two days.”
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