Manchester United: Ruben Amorim says players will not leave in January unless they are replaced

Manchester United Coach Ruben Amorim does not want to let any player leave in the January transfer window unless replacements come in.

Both Kobe Maino and Joshua Zirkzee are keen to get opportunities to play more regularly during the second half of the season. Maino still wants to go out on loan, while Zirkzee has been linked with a return to Italy.

However, even as his squad is strengthened in the middle of next month with captain Bruno Fernandes, Brian Mbomou, Amad Diallo and Nassir Mazraoui returning to fitness following their return from the Africa Cup of Nations, Amorim does not believe there are enough players in his squad to cope with the drop in numbers.

“It will be difficult for anyone to leave the club if we don’t get a replacement,” he said.

“We are short. Even with a full squad, we lack something that can happen.

“We are a club with a lot of responsibility. We are dealing with all these issues [the media’s] In my mind, in everyone’s mind, we need to win every game. It doesn’t matter. “There are no excuses.”

Amorim will be without seven senior players for the Boxing Day match against Newcastle.

Maino is still sidelined with a calf injury, while defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire are also absent.

Amorim has already said it is possible United could sign someone in January, although that would not be Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who is set to join Manchester City instead.

In theory, promoting the midfield as a replacement for Zerzhecky or Maino could improve United as they bid for a European place during the second half of the season.

However, financially, losing Maino may not make much sense considering whoever comes in will earn three or four times the 20-year-old’s current salary.

Unless Maino returns quickly, 18-year-old England youth international Jack Fletcher will provide midfield competition for Casemiro, Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte over the Christmas and New Year period.