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“Move expected to be finalised imminently”: Insanely talented United youngster one step away from loan transfer – report

    “move-expected-to-be-finalised-imminently”:-insanely-talented-united-youngster-one-step-away-from-loan-transfer-–-report
    “Move expected to be finalised imminently”: Insanely talented United youngster one step away from loan transfer – report

    Manchester United youngster Ethan Williams is on the brink of completing a loan transfer to League Two.

    Williams played a key role as United’s U18s won a historic treble last season, contributing an impressive 17 goals and nine assists.

    He has continued his upward trajectory this term and currently has four goals and two assists in nine appearances.

    A recent report covered by The Peoples Person revealed that United are set to allow Williams to leave on loan this month in an effort to secure the player a first proper taste of professional football.

    It was stated that a number of EFL clubs were keen on landing him, including Stockport and Leyton Orient -. two teams that are fighting for a playoff spot.

    The Daily Mail have now given an update on the situation, indicating that United have settled on a temporary destination for him.

    “Confidential understands that wide player Ethan Williams is heading out to League Two with a move expected to be finalised imminently.”

    “There had been interest from Leyton Orient and Stockport County in League One, but sources say United are pleased at what they feel is an ideal landing spot in the fourth tier for 19-year-old Williams to further his development.”

    On Williams’ teammate, Ethan Wheatley, The Mail note, “Finding the right loan for Wheatley is taking longer as the club want to avoid issues they ran into last season where players were placed into loans where game-time turned out to be minimal.”

    “There has been significant improvement in the past few months with defender Sonny Aljofree thriving at Accrington Stanley while goalkeeper Elyh Harrison, who has since been recalled, impressed at non-league Chester.”

    It’s understood that there are plenty of EFL outfits who would be keen on taking Wheatley for the remainder of the campaign.

    Wheatley made his senior United debut in July last year after he came on as a substitute in the 4-2 victory over Sheffield United at Old Trafford.

    Featured image George Wood via Getty Images

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    Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!

    United’s coffers swell with £80 million investment, but none of it will be used for transfers – report

      united’s-coffers-swell-with-80-million-investment,-but-none-of-it-will-be-used-for-transfers-–-report
      United’s coffers swell with £80 million investment, but none of it will be used for transfers – report

      On Monday, a published Companies House submission, backdated to 10 December, noted that £80million was paid into Manchester United for 100 shares.

      The shares were issued by Red Football Limited – one of United’s parent companies.

      Football finance expert Kieran Maguire confirmed that the shares were issued to United co-owner and INEOS billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

      I can confirm that (a) the amount invested is £80m and (b) it is from Jim Ratcliffe

      — Kieran Maguire (@KieranMaguire) January 14, 2025

      There was some excitement on social media once details of this transaction emerged but according to The Daily Mail, they’re simply part of what Ratcliffe promised as part of his minority takeover of the club.

      According to the newspaper, “Confidential can confirm that this was merely the formal process of Ratcliffe investing the final tranche of the extra £245m promised as part of his minority takeover.”

      “United’s parent company Red Football Ltd issued the new shares to absorb the new capital injected by Ratcliffe which has been earmarked for infrastructure projects such as the £50m redevelopment of the Carrington training ground rather than for transfers this month.”

      “And while it strengthens the club’s financial position, it has no additional bearing on profit and sustainability rules because the £80m had already been factored into the calculations.”

      Earlier today, it was confirmed that United met the Premier League’s financial guidelines for the 2023/24 period with no fresh charges being announced.

      In fact, every top-flight club was in compliance with the Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

      Any clubs that might have been found in breach would have been at serious risk of a points deduction.

      United are believed to be treading carefully when it comes to their financial shape, even as they aim to raise funds to spend on transfers in the ongoing winter transfer window.

      Ruben Amorim and his players are back in action on Thursday when they host Southampton at Old Trafford.

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      Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!

      City, Liverpool, Arsenal: Why Amorim’s Man United shine in the biggest of matches – The Athletic

        city,-liverpool,-arsenal:-why-amorim’s-man-united-shine-in-the-biggest-of-matches-–-the-athletic
        City, Liverpool, Arsenal: Why Amorim’s Man United shine in the biggest of matches – The Athletic

        Manchester United’s resurgence under Ruben Amorim has been defined by their strong showings in high-stakes encounters.

        In the Portuguese manager’s brief tenure since replacing Erik ten Hag in November, his side has triumphed over Manchester City and held their ground against Arsenal and Liverpool.

        Yet, amidst these impressive displays, United have faltered against less dominant sides, losing at home to Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, and Newcastle, and away to Wolves. Captain Bruno Fernandes has publicly voiced his frustrations, questioning why such intensity and effort are reserved for elite opposition.

        While Fernandes hinted at a psychological factor, Michael Cox, writing for The Athletic, suggests Amorim’s tactical approach is central to the disparity.

        He compares United’s situation to the early managerial spells of Mauricio Pochettino, Jurgen Klopp, and Mikel Arteta, who also struggled against defensively compact teams while thriving against top sides.

        Amorim’s current reliance on counter-attacking football exploits the attacking vulnerabilities of possession-heavy teams like Liverpool and City. This approach minimises the need for intricate attacking patterns, which are harder to perfect early in a managerial tenure with limited training time.

        Amorim’s system evolved significantly against Liverpool. With three uninterrupted training sessions preceding the match, Amorim refined key aspects of his team’s play, particularly through his wing-backs.

        Diogo Dalot delivered a standout performance, attacking space aggressively and creating several chances. His movements reflected a deeper understanding of the attacking responsibilities required in Amorim’s system.

        Dalot’s runs stretched Liverpool’s defensive line, while his ability to support Alejandro Garnacho on the overlap or underlap proved pivotal in opening up spaces on the left flank. United’s attacking transitions were swift and purposeful, culminating in a more cohesive and effective performance.

        Analysis of United’s performances under Amorim reveals a pattern. Against teams with over 55 per cent average possession, United has secured positive results in three out of five games.

        Conversely, they have struggled against sides with lower possession statistics, losing four out of six. This suggests United excel when allowed to counter but lack the creative solutions to dismantle deep defensive blocks.

        United’s recent success in cup competitions reflects their comfort with counter-attacking play, a hallmark of the Sir Alex Ferguson era. Amorim’s strategy leverages this tradition, focusing on rapid transitions and compact defensive organisation. While this approach suits knockout tournaments, sustained league success requires adaptability against diverse tactical setups.

        Amorim’s emphasis on tactical discipline and targeted training is beginning to yield results. However, to mount a serious league challenge, United must evolve into a team capable of breaking down defensive-minded opponents.

        For now, Amorim’s tactical blueprint positions United as cup contenders, with their FA Cup and Europa League campaigns still alive. If the team continues to grow under his guidance, they could translate these glimpses of brilliance into a more consistent league campaign.

        Featured Image Stu Forster via Getty Images

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        Raj is a seasoned digital writer and editor with a deep-seated passion for football. With over four years in the digital space, he has contributed to Sportlens, ManUtdNews, and is now proudly writing for The Peoples Person. His work is driven by a commitment to capture the essence of football, delivering content that speaks to the heart of fans worldwide.

        Amorim has ingenious plan for United star he used for former Liverpool flop at Sporting – report

          amorim-has-ingenious-plan-for-united-star-he-used-for-former-liverpool-flop-at-sporting-–-report
          Amorim has ingenious plan for United star he used for former Liverpool flop at Sporting – report

          Ruben Amorim has earmarked a key role for Harry Maguire in his Manchester United project.

          United continue to struggle to deliver positive results on a consistent basis but the Red Devils have shown plenty of promising signs during the early days of the Amorim era.

          In particular, the performances against Liverpool and Arsenal in the last 10 days have underlined that Amorim is capable of building a competitive squad if he is given the right tools to succeed by INEOS.

          INEOS are understood to be working on strengthening his squad in the winter transfer window. In the meantime, the young head coach is trying to get the best out of the current crop of players, as many top stars underperformed under Erik ten Hag.

          One such player is Maguire, who received plenty of backlash during Ten Hag’s reign. Now, he has emerged as one of Amorim’s most reliable options.

          The draw against Liverpool and the penalty shootout win over Arsenal were largely engineered by the Mancunians’ resilient defending. Maguire was a towering presence at the back in both outings.

          The 31-year-old’s physicality, positional awareness, and most importantly character, played a big part in United’s impressive showings.

          Amorim didn’t need much time to understand what the Englishman is capable of offering as it is understood he has already told the club to trigger a 12-month extension option in his contract.

          A report from The Telegraph reads: “In a team ‘starving for leaders’, as he put it, Amorim sees Maguire as one of his few leaders.”

          Further, it is added that the United gaffer wants Maguire to follow the footsteps of Sebastian Coates, who struggled to show his talents at Liverpool but established himself as a “key pillar” in Amorim’s setup at Sporting CP. The centre-back was an important player in Amorim’s two league-winning campaigns.

          It is added that Amorim “appears to have earmarked a similar role for Maguire in the middle of his back three.” The England international, Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez have become Amorim’s “go-to” three.

          Leny Yoro has also impressed in his limited appearances but the Frenchman is still too inexperienced to regularly start in the Premier League. As such, Maguire’s leadership qualities and experience could play a considerable part in Yoro’s development at Old Trafford. 

          Featured image Alex Pantling via Getty Images

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          Vishal has covered football for over five years. Currently a writer at The Peoples Person. Big fan of ball-playing center-backs!

          “He will be kept”: United perform dramatic u-turn over future of star earmarked to be sold – report

            “he-will-be-kept”:-united-perform-dramatic-u-turn-over-future-of-star-earmarked-to-be-sold-–-report
            “He will be kept”: United perform dramatic u-turn over future of star earmarked to be sold – report

            Manchester United’s second-choice goalkeeper Altay Bayindir is reportedly now set to stay at the club following his stellar performance against Arsenal on Sunday.

            Bayindir has found playing time extremely hard to come by following his £4.3m move to the club in the summer of 2023.

            Andre Onana has been United’s undisputed number one, limiting Bayindir to just a few Carabao Cup games and the single FA Cup appearance he made last weekend.

            However, the Turkey international was the Red Devils’ hero at the Emirates as they beat Arsenal on penalties to dump them out of the competition and advance to the fourth round, where they will face Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City.

            Bayindir faced criticism in December after conceding directly from Son Heung-Min’s 88th-minute corner during United’s heartbreaking 4-3 defeat to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

            But just one month later, after the final whistle vs. the Gunners, Ruben Amorim branded him as “our hero” for his valiant efforts between the sticks.

            The 26-year-old produced a brilliant save in the corner to stop Martin Odegaard’s penalty in the 72nd minute, changing the momentum of the match in United’s favour. He also came up with a string of excellent stops that forced the match into extra time and eventually, a penalty shootout.

            Bayindir again denied Kai Havertz, making his the only spot-kick missed of the nine taken.

            There was a lot of speculation that Bayindir could leave United during the ongoing winter transfer window in search of first-team minutes elsewhere.

            It was even suggested that Amorim was not convinced by him and wanted someone new to come in and deputise Onana.

            However, it appears that Bayindir is now set to remain at Old Trafford beyond this month.

            According to The Daily Mail, “There was a possibility that Bayindir could have left United in search of more first-team football this month, but that now seems unlikely to happen.”

            “Altay Bayindir is now unlikely to leave United after his heroics against Arsenal.”

            “He will be kept around to provide competition for United No1 Andre Onana.”

            Meanwhile, United return to Premier League action on Sunday when they host Southampton.

            Featured image Julian Finney via Getty Images

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            Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!

            Heartbreak for United as key target agrees to join European rival in bargain deal – Fabrizio Romano

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              Heartbreak for United as key target agrees to join European rival in bargain deal – Fabrizio Romano

              Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani is set to join Juventus on loan for the remainder of the season despite interest in the French international from Manchester United, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

              The Italian transfer guru has given his trademark ‘Here we go’ to Kolo Muani’s prospective loan move to the Old Lady, bringing an end to a race for the 26-year-old’s signature amongst some of Europe’s top clubs.

              United and Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur had been strongly linked with Kolo Muani, who failed to settle in Paris following his £76.4 million move from Eintracht Frankfurt two years ago.

              PSG manager Luis Enqriue had made it clear the French forward was not in his plans at the Parc des Princes but the Ligue 1 champions had been hoping to agree a loan move which included an obligation to buy clause.

              However, Romano reveals, Juventus’ offer is a straight loan with “no buy option clause”, representing a coup for the Italian club ahead of their English competitors.

              🚨⚪️⚫️ Randal Kolo Muani to Juventus, here we go! Deal in place on loan until June from PSG and NO buy option clause.

              Kolo Muani has accepted the proposal and will fly to Turin this week for medical tests.

              Agreement sealed. 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/8lnxDC1k5d

              — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 14, 2025

              Tweet: “Randal Kolo Muani to Juventus, here we go! Deal in place on loan until June from PSG and NO buy option clause. Kolo Muani has accepted the proposal and will fly to Turin this week for medical tests. Agreement sealed.”

              The Red Devils hold a long-term interest in Kolo Muani after having scouted him heavily in 2023 before he ultimately moved to PSG.

              United settled on Rasmus Hojlund as their number one target for the centre-forward position in that summer window, but Kolo Muani was believed to have been the second option on the club’s transfer list.

              And it appears Old Trafford officials were ready to revisit a move for the Frenchman this window with David Ornstein revealing the club were “actively exploring” a loan deal in the January window.

              United’s struggles in front of goal have been well documented this season while the prospect of Marcus Rashford’s departure this month will have strengthened the desire for reinforcements in Ruben Amorim’s attacking unit.

              The club would likely have needed a deal for Rashford to leave on loan to have been agreed before a pursuit of Kolo Muani could have been escalated, however.

              It appears this uncertainty has allowed Juventus to steal a march on a long-term target for the Reds in a position of need. And it could also have potential ramifications for another forward at Old Trafford – Joshua Zirkzee.

              The Dutch international had been strongly linked with a move to Juventus to reunite with former manager Thiago Motta, though noises from Zirkzee’s camp suggest he is keen to prove himself at United, boosted by a triumphant decisive penalty in the shoot out win over Arsenal in the FA Cup last weekend.

              Regardless, United will need to demonstrate a more decisive approach for the remainder of the January window than they have in the pursuit of Kolo Muani, as there are a number of positions which require upgrading in the first-team squad and only a limited amount of viable options to fill them.

              Feature image Mike Hewitt via Getty Images

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              Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.

              Ronaldo disrespected struggling United star during his time at club, he is now proving the Portuguese wrong – report

                ronaldo-disrespected-struggling-united-star-during-his-time-at-club,-he-is-now-proving-the-portuguese-wrong-–-report
                Ronaldo disrespected struggling United star during his time at club, he is now proving the Portuguese wrong – report

                Former Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo used to disrespect Harry Maguire during his team talks, as per reports.

                Ruben Amorim had not only inherited a tactically incoherent squad from Erik ten Hag but also been handed a squad that desperately needed a cultural reset.

                The Portuguese tactician wants his players to run like “mad dogs” and has underlined his determination to achieve that by pushing Marcus Rashford out of his first-team plans after being left disappointed with his work ethic.

                It is too early but it seems Amorim’s approach is already working. Against Liverpool and Arsenal, the Red Devils showed incredible resilience and desire to engineer positive results.

                In both of these games, Maguire emerged as a towering presence who was not only brilliant defensively, but he also rallied his teammates, like a captain. Incredibly, one of Ten Hag’s major decisions at Old Trafford was to snatch the captain’s armband from the Englishman.

                After an incredible start under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the club’s most expensive centre-back slowly lost his stride and found himself on the fringes at Carrington. A report has suggested that Ronaldo’s presence didn’t help the ex-United skipper during this tough period.

                According to The Telegraph, the iconic number seven was known to “roll his eyes” in the dressing room whenever Maguire used to speak in front of his teammates.

                Considering Ronaldo’s stature, one could imagine what the alleged disrespectful gesture would have done to Maguire’s confidence.

                Regardless, the 31-year-old never made things difficult for his manager and teammates in public and kept working behind the scenes to win back his place.

                Despite interest from West Ham United in the summer of 2023, he stayed and emerged as one of the stand-out players in the final 12 months of Ten Hag’s era.

                Amorim certainly likes Maguire’s skill sets and leadership qualities as he has reportedly told United to trigger a 12-month extension option in the central defender’s contract.

                It is claimed that “in a team ‘starving for leaders’, as he put it, Amorim sees Maguire as one of his few leaders.”

                Featured Image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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                Vishal has covered football for over five years. Currently a writer at The Peoples Person. Big fan of ball-playing center-backs!

                “Speculation is agent-driven”: United “unlikely to entertain offers” for key star amid strong links to foreign club – report

                  “speculation-is-agent-driven”:-united-“unlikely-to-entertain-offers”-for-key-star-amid-strong-links-to-foreign-club-–-report
                  “Speculation is agent-driven”: United “unlikely to entertain offers” for key star amid strong links to foreign club – report

                  Manchester United are not actively looking to sell Alejandro Garnacho this month, even as he continues to be strongly linked with a move to Napoli.

                  A report covered by The Peoples Person claimed that Napoli boss Antonio Conte wants Garnacho to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who is one step away from officially joining Paris Saint-Germain.

                  Subsequent reports from Italy even claimed that Napoli had tabled an offer for Garnacho, worth around €45 million euros (£38m) – a sum that significantly falls below United’s valuation of the winger.

                  It was even stated that Napoli have contacted Garnacho’s agent to discuss a potential transfer to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

                  This comes amidst suggestions that United will listen to serious offers for any of Ruben Amorim’s squad, including Kobbie Mainoo and Garnacho – two players who were previously considered untouchable.

                  Finances at Old Trafford are limited because of profitability and sustainability rules, making player sales a pivotal part of healthy squad management.

                  However, according to The Daily Mail, the speculation about Napoli’s interest in Garnacho is not as serious as it is being portrayed.

                  “Chelsea are known to be monitoring Mainoo’s contract stalemate at United, particularly if it drags on into the summer, but reports of Napoli making a move for Garnacho in this transfer window seem a little wider of the mark.”

                  “United sources indicate that the speculation is agent-driven and the club are unlikely to entertain offers for Garnacho this month unless an exceptionally high bid comes in.”

                  “The futures of both Mainoo and Garnacho will be under discussion again in the summer when serious offers for both players are considered more likely.”

                  Garnacho is gradually finding his feet under Ruben Amorim but despite this, he has still managed to put up impressive numbers so far this term.

                  The Argentine has notched seven goals and five assists in 29 appearances across all competitions. He and his teammates return to action on Thursday when they host Premier League strugglers Southampton at Old Trafford.

                  Featured image Michael Regan via Getty Images

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                  Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!

                  How Marcus Rashford could return to Man Utd for £86m in Paul Pogba repeat

                    how-marcus-rashford-could-return-to-man-utd-for-86m-in-paul-pogba-repeat
                    How Marcus Rashford could return to Man Utd for £86m in Paul Pogba repeat

                    With Marcus Rashford set to copy Paul Pogba in ditching Manchester United for a Serie A giant, here are five steps to him returning for £86m…

                    Marcus Rashford may have glumly watched on from the sidelines as Man Utd produced back-to-back good performances against Liverpool and Arsenal, while Ruben Amorim’s latest comments indicate no immediate route back for the exit-bound forward.

                    With FC Barcelona’s dire financial situation likely to prevent his ‘dream’ move, Rashford needs to look further afield with Serie A giants AC Milan among his leading options.

                    A move to AC Milan (or Juventus, potentially) would see Rashford follow former Man Utd midfielder Pogba in ditching the Premier League giants for life in Serie A.

                    There are similarities between the situations faced by Rashford and Pogba; the latter is undoubtedly a talented footballer who felt he had to leave to reach his potential on another grand stage after butting heads with the man in the dugout, while the forward is in a similar boat as he looks to rediscover his love for football without the added pressure of being United’s local hero.

                    Pogba’s story resulted in him returning to Man Utd and it would not be a surprise if Rashford eventually does the same. While a transfer – which realistically should have happened in a previous window – is the correct next move for the player (and club), this is a last resort as it’s clear that his heart remains with his boyhood club.

                    Fortunately for Rashford, there are only five steps in the way of him returning to Man Utd for an £86m fee (a la Pogba)…

                    A loan (with a buy obligation) to AC Milan
                    Rashford’s preference appears to be a move to Barcelona, but this is not realistic given how poorly they have been run in recent years.

                    With Barcelona presumably out of the picture, AC Milan, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund are the main clubs in the running after he admirably turned his nose up at interest from Saudi Arabia.

                    Realistically, either of these moves would be good for Rashford and perhaps better than his form over the past 18 months warrants. For this article, let’s say AC Milan win the race to sign him.

                    Rashford’s huge salary has been mooted as the main exit obstacle this month, so a loan is the most realistic outcome. Also, with United growing increasingly desperate to raise funds, it’s not a surprise that they are reportedly insistent on a buy obligation (not an option) clause in this deal.

                    This could be priced at anything between £25-40m and it could take until the latter days of this window for the clubs to nail down a final figure, though you suspect the buyers are more likely to come out of this deal better off…

                    READ: Ruben Amorim repeats Sir Alex ploy as Marcus Rashford gets ‘message’

                    Scoring 25+ goals in multiple Serie A seasons
                    Serie A – AC Milan particularly – has become the new home for Premier League has-beens, and the lower standard has led to these players performing better in Italy than in England.

                    Christian Pulisic, Ademola Lookman, Moise Kean and Scott McTominay are all recent examples of players who went from looking average in the Premier League to world beaters in Serie A; it’s hard to see Rashford’s trajectory not following the same script if/when he joins AC Milan.

                    The standard in Serie A has fallen off a cliff in the past 20 years, so Rashford – with his explosive pace and power – has the potential to tear it up in Italy whether as a striker or winger.

                    Rashford would likely have a better chance with AC Milan – alongside English pals Tammy Abraham, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Fikayo Tomori – than other Serie A or European sides to settle in quickly and replicate his 2022/23 form, grabbing bundles of goals and assists to earn admiring glances from his old club.

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                    Viktor Gyokeres flops at Man Utd
                    The Rashford sale will certainly contribute to Man Utd signing a new striker in the summer; the 2024 top scorer in Europe – Viktor Gyokeres – is among the leading candidates to join due to his highly publicised fondness of Amorim.

                    Sporting Lisbon’s descent post-Amorim has been as dramatic as Ajax’s post-Erik ten Hag, but Gyokeres – who has 32 goals in 30 games this season – has continued his extraordinary form without his former boss.

                    Amorim promised he wouldn’t raid his former club in January, but he said nothing about the summer and United will likely be linked with Gyokeres and the rest of Sporting’s starting XI before the 2024/25 season is over.

                    Gyokeres has enjoyed a remarkably steep rise from Championship striker to one of Europe’s best forwards. So, it is somewhat surprising that he has reportedly been made available for just 70 million euros (around £63m) when they realistically could demand double as their prized asset remains under contract until 2028.

                    While his Champions League form suggests Gyokeres will not be another flash in the pan, Premier League clubs are always taking a risk when they buy strikers from B-level divisions such as the Primeira Liga and they rarely pay off. I’m looking at you, Darwin Nunez.

                    So should Gyokeres prove to be Nunez 2.0, the Red Devils would again be forced into the transfer market for an alternative solution and it would catch their eye if a forward scores 25+ goals in Serie A.

                    READ: 16 Conclusions from Arsenal 1-1 Man Utd (3-5): Havertz and Gunners blow big chance, tentative United progress continues

                    Ruben Amorim gets shown the door
                    Amorim’s start at Man Utd was as rough as it gets as light-hearted jibes about relegation to the Championship suddenly became serious with the drop zone only seven points away. 

                    The Red Devils remain in an uneasy position, but supporter optimism is rightly on the rise after positive performances (and strong displays of character, most importantly) against Liverpool and Arsenal.

                    This Man Utd squad have zero credit in the bank, so I’ll stop short of lauding them before Thursday’s Premier League match against Southampton. But for the first time this season, promising signs indicate an upward trajectory.

                    This is largely thanks to the assertive leadership of Amorim, who has conducted himself admirably amid a crisis as he looks every bit the charismatic leader – with a clear tactical identity – that Ten Hag was not.

                    We have of course been here before as the special and sh*t of Man Utd’s recent managerial past have tried and failed as the frail-minded players let them down after showing brief signs of promise.

                    Amorim looks as good a fit for Man Utd as any previous post-Sir Alex Ferguson manager, but two decent games do not take away from the massive rebuild on the inexperienced head coach’s shoulders and Rashford may need his soon-to-be former boss to come up short if he’s to have another crack at being United’s top star.

                    Sir Gareth arrives at Old Trafford
                    Amorim is way out as the seventh-favourite to be the next Premier League manager sacked                    , so his exit won’t come any time soon and it absolutely should not, considering how well he’s handled his first two months in the dugout.

                    But were Rashford’s return chances boosted by the sacking of Amorim, Man Utd’s proposed £86m re-signing could be nudged further into the ‘here we go’ column if Sir Gareth Southgate is appointed as their next manager.

                    Southgate was not without his critics for how poorly the summer’s European Championships (and build-up to the tournament) was handled, but he retains respect in the footballing inner circle and has a good relationship with United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

                    One of Southgate’s biggest failings as England manager was his insistence on siding with his selected favourites. This included Rashford before his form declined to the extent that his manager had no choice but to axe him from his senior squad.

                    But Rashford often turned up for Southgate in big moments and that would stand him in good stead when Man Utd inevitably look to sign a new attacker for Amorim’s replacement should he establish himself as one of Serie A’s finest stars.

                    Conor Gallagher, Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount and Kieran Trippier would obviously follow Rashford in joining the Red Devils as Southgate gets the old band back together.

                    United to abandon pursuit of £70m player amidst the dramatic resurgence of Amorim favourite – report

                      united-to-abandon-pursuit-of-70m-player-amidst-the-dramatic-resurgence-of-amorim-favourite-–-report
                      United to abandon pursuit of £70m player amidst the dramatic resurgence of Amorim favourite – report

                      Manchester United are reportedly set to abandon their pursuit of Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite in favour of a younger and cheaper defender, amidst Harry Maguire’s dramatic resurgence.

                      United recently exercised their option to trigger a one-year extension clause in Maguire’s contract following a string of excellent performances, especially since Ruben Amorim’s appointment.

                      The 31-year-old has now started five consecutive games under Amorim and is once again playing impressively at the heart of the defence, in a system he knows well from his England days under Gareth Southgate.

                      Maguire was excellent on Sunday as a 10-man United side beat Arsenal on penalties to dump them out of the FA Cup and advance to the fourth round of the competition.

                      He was on the pitch for 104 minutes and when he came off, received a standing ovation from the travelling supporters.

                      The United n.o 5 spoke to The Mirror and credited Amorim for his improved form.

                      Now, The Daily Mail reveal that United’s transfer plans have changed due to Maguire’s incredible turnaround.

                      According to the newspaper, “Maguire was expected to leave Old Trafford as a free agent along with Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans in June, forcing United to make another big signing in central defence a year after forking out £59million to Lille for Leny Yoro.”

                      “Confidential understands that the club will look at a younger centre-back with potential rather than pay big money for a ready-made replacement like Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite who would have cost around £70million and £160,000-a-week in wages.”

                      “That will enable United to re-direct their limited transfer funds to other areas of the team at a time when money is tight at Old Trafford.”

                      “Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez and Yoro are set to continue as United’s pool of centre-backs with Noussair Mazraoui and Luke Shaw – if he stays – both able to play in the back-three.”

                      After United elected to extend Maguire’s stay at Old Trafford but an additional year, he now has 18 months left on his current terms.

                      If he keeps up his form, United may very well initiate talks over a new deal.

                      Featured image Alex Pantling via Getty Images

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                      Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!

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