Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has reportedly decided on two players he is willing to sell in January, following a challenging start to his tenure at Old Trafford.
There were high expectations for a managerial boost when Amorim took over during the November international break, succeeding the dismissed Erik ten Hag.
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However, the former Sporting CP manager has encountered more difficulties than he anticipated in English football. ..Continue Reading
United managed a 1-1 draw with Ipswich in Amorim’s Premier League debut, and had to come from behind to secure a 3-2 win against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League.
They followed this with a 4-0 thrashing of Everton at Old Trafford, but then suffered consecutive league defeats to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.
After the 3-2 loss to Forest at Old Trafford on Saturday, Amorim took the blame in an attempt to draw attention away from his underperforming squad.
“When this happens, it’s more my fault because I’m responsible,” Amorim told reporters after the game. “We try to do it in the best way.
“We did a lot of work in this area because we saw it against Arsenal. It was really hard in this context, suffering in the first play [of the game], to put energy into the team but we managed to do it. We were drawing the game, but then in the second half, the same thing.
“Then you feel it in everybody, the fans, the players…it’s really hard to transmit something, like continue to your job. We managed to score one more but then it was more like we wanted [to score again], but there was not a lot of quality.”
Behind the scenes, Amorim is reportedly planning to offload several players in January to make his mark on the squad.
GiveMeSport reports that Amorim has pinpointed Christian Eriksen and Antony, two high earners, as candidates for departure during the next transfer window.
The duo earns a combined £350,000 per week at Old Trafford, and it’s understood that moving them on would relieve pressure on the club’s wage bill.
Manchester United is reportedly open to selling multiple squad members next month to free up transfer funds for Amorim, aiming to improve the season’s outcome.
Eriksen, whose contract expires in the summer, isn’t part of Amorim’s long-term plans. Meanwhile, Antony hasn’t convinced the manager of his value to the squad.
Eriksen, 32, has made 14 appearances this season, but only one since Amorim’s arrival. Antony, 24, who was signed for £86 million, has played just seven games in all competitions this season.
Eriksen can negotiate a pre-contract with foreign clubs from January, prompting United to consider selling him next month to recoup a fee.
The Denmark international has been linked with several clubs, including Galatasaray and a potential move to MLS or a return to Ajax.
Antony is also rumored to be returning to Ajax, with interest from the Saudi Pro League. Turkish club Fenerbahce were also linked with him over the summer, though it’s unclear if their interest remains.
