Man Utd have decided to make Napoli striker Victor Osimhen their ‘big target’ for the January transfer window, according to reports.

The Red Devils are currently 13th in the Premier League table with Ruben Amorim winning two, losing two and drawing one of his five league matches in charge.

Man Utd have been extremely inconsistent this campaign but their 2-1 comeback win over arch-rivals Man City on Sunday could give them a platform to have a more successful second half of the season.

Supporters are hoping the club can support Amorim in the transfer market with the Red Devils struggling for goals in the Premier League this season.

Only Crystal Palace, Everton, Ipswich Town and Southampton have scored fewer goals than Man Utd this term with Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee coming in for criticism.

And Man Utd will reportedly look to sign a new forward in the winter with a report in Spanish publication Fichajes claiming that the Red Devils have made Napoli’s Osimhen ‘their big target for the January transfer window’.

Osimhen, who is currently on loan at Galatasaray, has a release clause of €75m, which ‘could facilitate negotiations although the financial aspect remains a challenge’.

The signing of the Nigeria international has ‘become a strategic priority for the English club’ while rivals Chelsea ‘have not lost sight of the striker, after talks last summer failed to bear fruit.’

Caught Offside claimed on Monday that the Red Devils have made a ‘fresh approach’ for Osimhen to ‘ask for information’ over a potential transfer with the Napoli man ’emerging as a top target for Man Utd due to the doubts over Marcus Rashford’s future, and after the lack of impact made by Joshua Zirkzee since moving to Old Trafford in the summer’.

MORE ON MAN UTD FROM F365…
👉 Seven reasons to be cheerful as Manchester United fans features Amorim’s lieutenant
👉 Man Utd star ‘is history’ as Ratcliffe demands ‘cultural reboot’ with January sale of ‘passenger’
👉 Mailbox: Man Utd fans want more credit as they ‘easily won the ‘xG’ battle’

The report suggests Zirkzee and Rashford – who was left out of Amorim’s squad for their 2-1 win over Man City – could leave Man Utd in the January transfer window as they look to bring funds into the Premier League club.

Former Man Utd star Lee Sharpe is hoping that the Red Devils can find some consistency after their win over City and reckons that will only come when Amorim stops rotating as much.

Sharpe told BetMGM: “It will be impossible for United to find consistency if Amorin is constantly making changes to the starting eleven. Amorin needs to be starting nine or more of the same players every week to improve enough to compete with the best teams in the league. When it comes to the best teams everyone knows pretty much what their starting team will be before it’s announced and with United at the moment it’s more of a lottery which isn’t helping their consistency issues.

“At the moment with the busy Christmas schedule both in the league and the European games the best thing he can do is just play a consistent team to try and get the group used to the new formation. I’m sure Amorin would have liked to have come in during the summer when he could have spent pre-season drilling the team with his ideas when results and performances don’t matter but doing so makes his job much trickier.

“I think they will get there though, he is clearly a capable manager as you can see already they have made improvements going forward they just have to cut out their defensive errors which is easier said than done.”

Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim is ready to allow Alejandro Garnacho leave Old Trafford with Atletico Madrid interested, according to reports.

The Red Devils beat arch-rivals Man City 2-1 in the Manchester Derby on Sunday with late Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo goals turning the game on its head.

Garnacho and Man Utd team-mate Marcus Rashford were left out of Ruben Amorim’s 20-man squad to face Man City on Sunday with the Red Devils boss not happy with their attitude.

Speaking before the match against Man City, Amorim spoke to journalists about why he left out Garnacho and Rashford at the Etihad Stadium, he told Sky Sports: “We try to evaluate everything training performance, game performances, engagement with teammates, push their teammates up.

“Everything is on the line when we analyse and try to choose the players. It is my selection. Simple.

“I don’t want to send a message it is simply an evaluation and they know it. The players are really, really smart. Everybody understands my decision and I have to choose. It is simple selection.

“Of course the context is difficult because we have to win games and we have a difficult situation now. I pay attention to everything, the way you eat, the way you put your clothes to go to a game. Everything. I make my evaluation and then I decide.

“There is a communication after the last training. They are alright. They had training this morning and I was there. They trained really well.”

MORE ON MAN UTD FROM F365…
👉 Seven reasons to be cheerful as Manchester United fans features Amorim’s lieutenant
👉 Man Utd star ‘is history’ as Ratcliffe demands ‘cultural reboot’ with January sale of ‘passenger’
👉 Mailbox: Man Utd fans want more credit as they ‘easily won the ‘xG’ battle’

It was claimed on Monday by journalist Graeme Bailey that Amorim “hasn’t liked the attitude that either has shown and he has chosen this moment to make it clear to the squad as a whole what he expects.”

Bailey told United In Focus: “I am told the club has no issues with Amorim’s handling of the situation.

“He has made it clear to both that he hasn’t liked the attitude that either has shown and he has chosen this moment to make it clear to the squad as a whole what he expects.

“Amorim has certain levels and any player wanting to play for him has to hit certain levels of professionalism, attitude and commitment.”

Speaking about Garnacho, a report in Spanish publication Fichajes insists that Amorim is ‘willing to facilitate the player’s departure’ which ‘opens the door’ to a move to La Liga giants Atletico Madrid.

The Spanish club, who ‘dream’ of the 20-year-old, ‘wants to sign’ the Argentina international ‘in the winter transfer window’ with Diego Simeone a ‘a self-confessed admirer’ of Man Utd winger Garnacho.

Garnacho ‘would fit perfectly into a hypothetical attacking trident alongside Giuliano Simeone and Julian Alvarez’ and Man Utd boss Amorim ‘seems determined to get rid of players who do not fit into his system’.

Manchester United fans were five minutes away from another week of soul-searching before Matheus Nunes did a madness and Amad Diallo did an even bigger madness at the Etihad.

The fear for the Red Devils will be that their good cheer in keeping with the season will dwindle before Christmas arrives with Tottenham in the League Cup on Thursday ahead of a league clash against Bournemouth, but there are plenty of reasons to be cheerful not limited to, but unquestionably highlighted by, the dopamine-hitter of a Manchester derby.

Amad Diallo
Having climaxed as he scored the winner, with more than a slight reddish tint to his punditry spectacles, Gary Neville claimed Amad was “sensational” against Manchester City. Sorry, we’re not having it.

A sensational goal absolutely, but had that not happened we wouldn’t have picked him out as “the only Manchester United player to look like a Manchester United player”, with that honour more likely to have been bestowed on Noussair Mazraoui or one of the three centre-backs.

But the point is, he did score that goal. A wonderful one, in the 90th minute, against Manchester City. It proved a few things: he’s got huge quality – a footballer can’t produce a touch and finish like that without it; he’s got a winning mentality – he wasn’t happy with the point he earned the side through winning the penalty; he’s very fit – that’s quite the lung-busting run to make so late in the game.

It’s a massive moment for him and Amorim, whose decision now isn’t whether to play Amad but where to play him given the 22-year-old’s also managed four assists from right wing-back since the new boss took the reins at Old Trafford. A nice problem to have.

READ MORE: Robbie Savage’s Winners & Losers: Awesome Amad and Walker’s embarrassment…

Acknowledging the process
It was telling after the 4-0 win over Everton that Amorim was eager to pump the brakes. He knew that scoreline didn’t tell the story of a game in which United’s performance level was barely better than their opponents’. He knew then and knows now that there is a long way to go – probably longer than he thought when he arrived at the club – and has been at pains to point out just how far United are away from where they want to be.

But he’s in a position to make that point. Erik ten Hag had been there over two years and spent over £600m on his players. Him pointing out how far Manchester United were away from a title challenge was like a child grumbling over the time it’s taking to tidy their bedroom: who’s fault is that, mate?

There is now a top-down acceptance from everyone, fans included, that this isn’t going to be a quick fix.

The Rashford, Garnacho message
This could have gone tits up. Manchester United’s bench won’t have struck fear into Manchester City (if those dead-eyed broken men are even capable of emotion these days) and entirely different adjectives would have been used to describe what is now being billed as a hugely bold and brave decision had they got spanked by their local rivals.

But that jeopardy makes it even more bold and brave, and sends a very clear Be Better Or Else message to Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and the rest of the squad, with his expectations laid out for all to hear after the game when he could have blamed nonsense injuries or given a “my decision” answer without elaborating. which inevitably leads to widespread reports of dressing-room rifts and gets the transfer rumour mill turning.

They weren’t putting in the effort, were subsequently dropped, but will be back if and when they do put in more effort. Simple put excellent management.

READ MORE: Premier League winners and losers: Dyche, Guardiola, Amorim, Liverpool and the two manager sackings

Strikers scoring goals
Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee had managed just three goals in a combined 21 games under Erik ten Hag this season, to the point where Zirkzee had one foot out of the door having only just arrived in the summer. And already-present doubts over Hojlund’s ability to be The Main Man for Manchester United increased with Viktor Gyokeres offering an enticing alternative given his inextricable links to the incoming manager.

Let’s be absolutely clear, those doubts still remain, but their displays under Amorim have at least offered hope. They’ve got seven goals between them already and it’s 10 so far for central strikers in just seven games under Amorim when we add the three Rashford has scored in that role. While they may well at some point need a goalscorer of Gyokeres’ absurd regularity, it surely won’t be a priority.

Centre-backs
Weird to say that Manchester United’s trio of centre-backs will face far sterner tests than they did against the best goalscorer in world football and arguably the best the Premier League has ever seen, but that’s where Erling Haaland and Manchester City are at right now.

Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez did look good though. The change of system was bound to suit Maguire, who thrived in a three with England, but we’re slightly surprised both by Amorim’s trust in De Ligt – he’s started every game under him so far – and the 25-year-old’s impressive performances.

He never looked comfortable when Julian Nagelsmann experimented with a back three at Bayern Munich and was dropped one game into the 2022 World Cup by Louis van Gaal owing to his fallibility in the same system, but it looks as though he’s at least getting to grips with the system and to life as a Manchester United player.

There was never really any doubt over Martinez, who’s perfect in that left centre-back role, from where he can be aggressive off the ball and use his excellent passing range, as we saw with his delivery for Amad’s goal against City.

Ratcliffe’s ‘unpopular decisions’
We’re not at all convinced by some of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s decisions at Manchester United. From mid-season ticket price increases to Dan Ashworth via revoking Busby Babe privileges and the ‘Wembley of the North’ hokum, the mistakes are wide-ranging and not insignificant in his nine-month stint as co-owner.

But while we don’t have sympathy for Ratcliffe – he’s a ludicrously wealthy tax exile – we understand the predicament he’s in. It’s hard enough for any new owner to make immediate change given profit and sustainability regulations, and most won’t be walking into a club as mismanaged as Manchester United has been under the Glazers.

He could have made different “unpopular decisions” but it’s pretty clear that unpopular decisions needed to be made, and while he may yet prove to be a disaster for Manchester United, the mere fact he recognises the need for “huge change” at the club is a positive.

Bruno Fernandes’ leadership
Roy Keane’s summation of Bruno Fernandes has been the widely held view of the majority up to this point: Talented Boy, But No Leader. The arm-flailing histrionics have been difficult to ignore, even though we quite frequently ask ourselves what the reactions of Keano and other Manchester United legends might have been had they been playing alongside the sub-par teammates Fernandes has had to deal with at Old Trafford. We suspect there would have been a fair amount of moaning from them too.

Even so, there’s no doubt Fernandes’ leadership left plenty to be desired, but he seems to be maturing on the pitch and his comments after the win over Manchester City were particularly impressive. He said he “had to deliver” from the penalty spot after missing a big chance, hailed Amad while attempting to keep his feet on the ground, talking about “expectations” and how he deserved his chance through “working hard”, and then pointedly listed the substitutes as “we count on everyone” before hailing Manuel Ugarte – who’s endured a difficult start at the club – as “outstanding”.

The answers were considered and all brought back to the idea that he and his teammates are all working towards the common goals Amorim has set out for them. Perhaps for the first time at Manchester United, it feels as though Fernandes is the manager’s on-field lieutenant.

It now seems unlikely that either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain will make a move for Man Utd forward Marcus Rashford in January, according to reports.

The Red Devils have been struggling for goals for much of this season with Rashford – who has scored four Premier League goals – one of the players to be criticised for his poor performances.

Rashford, along with Alejandro Garnacho, was left out of Ruben Amorim’s 20-man squad to face Man City in the Manchester Derby in Sunday with Man Utd coming away from the Etihad Stadium with a dramatic three points and a 2-1 win.

One journalist claimed on Monday that Amorim ‘hasn’t liked the attitude that either has shown and he has chosen this moment to make it clear to the squad as a whole what he expects.’

Amorim’s decision to leave Rashford out comes after a week of speculation linking the England international with a move away from Old Trafford in the January transfer window.

There has been speculation that Man Utd will consider ‘top offers’ for Rashford in the winter market with claims Arsenal and PSG could be interested in his services.

But now transfer insider Graeme Bailey insists that PSG have other targets in mind instead of Rashford with the Man Utd forward not fitting ‘into the current strategy’ at the French club.

Bailey told United In Focus: “I am told Marcus Rashford is not the kind of player PSG are pursuing. He does not fit into the current strategy Luis Campos is leading at the club.”

And Charles Watts – who has been covering Arsenal for years – doubts the Gunners would have serious interest in Rashford over the January transfer window after their failed Raheem Sterling loan.

Watts wrote in his Caught Offside column: ‘Marcus Rashford’s name always seems to pop up when it comes to Arsenal these days.

‘He always seems to be part of the conversation, certainly amongst fans anyway, and that might be the case again as we head towards January given what’s going on with him at Manchester United at the moment.

‘Do I think he could be an opportunity for Arsenal? I don’t think so to be honest. I’m just not sure he’s what they need.

‘If he was still the Rashford of a couple of years ago then my thoughts would be different. But if that was the case then he would be playing week in, week out for United right now.

‘But he’s not and there’s a reason for that. So if Arsenal, or anyone else, were to move for him in January then they would be doing so in the hope that he could rediscover his best form again.

‘It would just be a bit of a gamble. Similar to what Arsenal did with Raheem Sterling in the summer and that’s certainly not been a gamble that has paid off. Rashford would be a far more expensive one as well.

‘I do think that Arsenal have to pull something out of the bag in January. It’s clear they need at least one other viable option in the final third, even if it’s a loan deal to get them through to the summer when they can really push for their main targets.

MORE ON MAN UTD FROM F365…
👉 Seven reasons to be cheerful as Manchester United fans features Amorim’s lieutenant
👉 Mediawatch: Shock as Ruben Amorim ‘watched’ Marcus Rashford ‘GET DRESSED’
👉 Man Utd: Rashford, Garnacho decision influenced by director as Romano reveals ‘consequences’

‘This season has shown they need more. It felt in the summer that they had left themselves at least one attacker short and that was with Sterling’s late loan move factored in.

‘The fact that Sterling doesn’t even seem to be considered for minutes now, even when the team is desperately in need of a goal, really shows that the squad is probably two attacking players short in terms of where it needs to be.

‘So January does feel crucial for Arsenal and their ambitions over the second half of the season. It won’t be easy to find what’s needed, but they have to give it a good go.’

Craig Burley has branded Rashford “an utter embarrassment to himself and Manchester United” after his social media post celebrating a 2-1 victory he wasn’t part of.

Burley told ESPN: “For Rashford to be posting on his Instagram while his colleagues are out there, grafting to get a victory, when he is not there because his attitude allegedly, among other things, is not good enough

“He is frankly a joke. He should not be anywhere near social media. He should have kept his head down, embarrassed that he was not at the Etihad to help.

“One of the worst things that could have happened to Man United in the last two to three years was Rashford having a magnificent season a couple of years ago, and United had to give him a new contract because they were in a corner.

“I have played against some of the best players that have ever played at United. When they get a new contract, they push to be even better. But Rashford, he got this new bumper contract and does not care.

“To sit there and post on social media when you have been embarrassed by the manager who does not like what he is seeing. He is an utter embarrassment to himself and his football club.”