Ruben Amorim is reportedly considering ‘springing a surprise’ with a left-field option ‘picked’ to ‘replace’ Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo.
Amorim has endured a rough start at Man Utd as they remain in the bottom half of the Premier League with seven matches of the 2024/25 season remaining.
Man Utd have been run terribly in recent years and a lot of work is required to get the Premier League giants back on track with a huge squad overhaul necessary.
United’s dire season leaves most of their squad at risk of being sold/released this summer and it’s even been suggested that Mainoo could be let go.
The Red Devils need to offload valuable talents to raise funds for signings, and Mainoo could bring in around £60-70m if he is sold.
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Mainoo was one of last season’s breakout stars as he shone for Man Utd and England, but his form has dipped this season as he’s been impacted by injuries and fatigue.
Chelsea were linked with Mainoo in January and it has been suggested that a move could be possible this summer with contract negotiations dragging on.
A report from Football Transfers claims ‘Man Utd would be loath to sell their homegrown star, but their hand could be forced due to their persistent struggles with PSR rules’.
This has led to a ‘willingness to experiment’ with centre-back Lisandro Martinez ‘picked’ as a possible replacement.
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Regarding the reasoning for this stance, the report explains.
‘Sources have informed us that Lisandro Martinez is a key factor in Amorim’s thinking. The 2022 World Cup winner is currently nursing an ACL injury and is not expected to return until the end of the year or potentially even 2026.
‘But Amorim’s concerns go beyond the immediate need for another body in defence. We are told that the 40-year-old has genuine doubts over Martinez’s suitability to his back-three system.
‘Indeed, there is a feeling that Amorim would be open to sacrificing the Argentine to aid Man Utd’s bid of raising funds. But with clubs unlikely to splash the cash on a player who is injured long-term, the coach could spring a surprise to better integrate Martinez into his formation upon his return.
‘Sources say that Amorim is willing to give Martinez a chance in midfield, which is not a totally foreign role to him. During his first season at Ajax in 2019/20, the diminutive centre-back played primarily as a defensive midfielder.
‘Additionally, there is an expectation that Casemiro will receive offers this summer. Martinez would be more of a like-for-like replacement for the former Real Madrid star than Mainoo, although he would not be a guaranteed starter in midfield, regardless of whom he replaces.’
