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Four Man Utd Gifts Amorim Needs Under the Christmas Tree
With Christmas here, there are both positives and negatives to take from the season so far at Manchester United. The Red Devils are only three points off third place, and performances have at times given fans reason to feel optimistic about the club’s direction of travel under Ruben Amorim.
That said, with the team seventh, there are still doubts over his long-term future at Old Trafford, with some feeling as though the job may simply be too big for the 40-year-old. Defeat against Aston Villa last time out in the Premier League was emblematic of form this term, with positives to take from the game, but the result ultimately not good enough.
Amorim will be hoping for an improved second half of the season, and there are a few things he could get over the Christmas period which would significantly boost his chances.
An Upgrade on Manuel Ugarte
Anyone watching Man United lose 2-1 against Aston Villa would have noticed an obvious weak link in the away team. That man was Manuel Ugarte, whose performance was described as ‘scandalous’. A midfield upgrade is needed if the Red Devils want to secure Champions League football.
The promising news is that with the January window soon to open, Man Utd appear to be in the market. Speaking before the defeat at Villa, Amorim said:
“I don’t know what is going to happen, but it’s possible we can do something – we will see. The only thing we know is that we would only try to bring players we think are going to be the future. It’s not going to be to save something in this moment, to cope with the losses of three players for AFCON.”
Both Ruben Neves and Conor Gallagher have been linked and would almost certainly be an upgrade on £50m man Ugarte, and would also have every chance of settling in fast at Old Trafford, thanks to the prior Premier League experience at Wolves and Chelsea respectively.
Bruno Fernandes Injury Boost
In the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, no player has been more important to the club than Bruno Fernandes. He may have his criticisms, but when push comes to shove, he’s almost always been the man to deliver – and that’s been the same under Amorim.
As such, there will be big concerns over the captain’s fitness, having picked up a rare injury against Aston Villa. Early reporting suggests it could be at least a month before he returns to action. It will be a huge Christmas boost for the club if Fernandes can avoid a serious long-term issue and return sooner than expected.
Kobbie Mainoo’s January Exit
While Manchester United fans won’t like to hear it, it is probably best for both Mainoo and Amorim if the midfielder leaves this winter. The manager clearly doesn’t want trust the Englishman with much of a role in his team and all the noise around his stance has long-been an unwanted distaction – with his brother even spotted wearing a ‘free Kobbie Mainoo’ shirt at a recent game.
Recent reports suggest Napoli are among the leading candidates to land the youngster. Following Scott McTominay’s success with the Italian club, this move appears to appeal to the 20-year-old. As for Amorim, he will no doubt breathe a sigh of relief is Mainoo does depart this winter. Knowing he’ll no longer have to answer questoins about his lack of game time on a weekly basis will perhaps be the best gift he gets all Christmas.
Benjamin Sesko Stepping Up For Bryan Mbeumo
With Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo away at the Africa Cup of Nations, and Fernandes sidelined, now would be a really good moment for Benjamin Sesko to come into form properly for the first time since completing his big-money move from RB Leipzig. With just two goals to his name this season, the striker has shown only the most fleeting glimpses of his quality.
After a quiet showing against Villa, Amorim blamed a lack of fitness for Sesko’s struggles, saying, “He is returning to competition really fast. He is going to improve a lot.” The Man Utd boss could really do with his young forward regaining his sharpness and bursting into life over the coming weeks.
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