Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim is mum on his transfer comments

Amorim then said he did not regret his comments before the Newcastle game before the same journalist asked him again if anything had changed regarding the transfer budget. He replied again: “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Then, after a short pause, after the United press officer sitting next to Amorim at the press conference began deciding who would ask the next question, the Portuguese added: “But you’re very smart, so…”

There was no explanation as to what Amorim meant, but the clear conclusion was that the journalist could solve the problem himself, and that it was related to the topic he was discussing.

United have repeatedly stressed that they will only make signings in January if they fit their long-term model.

Speaking after the Newcastle game, Amorim said he sometimes clashed with the club over goals. One of these is understood to be the decision to sign Belgian goalkeeper Sene Lammens on the transfer deadline day in place of Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez, who was the coach’s favorite target.

Amorim said after the Newcastle match that it is important to listen to the coach’s voice because he understands the qualities required to play in his team.

The exchange comes as confidence in Amorim has plummeted among United fans after a particularly poor run of home matches, which included defeat to an Everton side reduced to 10 men after just eight minutes, draws with West Ham and Bournemouth – who have gone eight and ten games without a win – and defeats to Wolves.

United remain in sixth place in the standings, having missed repeated opportunities to climb into the top four, but they are only three points ahead of Fulham, which ranks 12th.

The club has made no secret of the fact that qualifying for the European Championship is their goal for this season and there will be major doubts about Amorim’s future if it fails to achieve this goal.

United have already brought back midfielder Toby Collier from his loan spell at West Brom, although the 22-year-old is still recovering from a calf injury sustained in the draw with Birmingham on 26 November.

There was a feeling that United’s hierarchy would punish new arrivals this month if striker Joshua Zirkzee – who was substituted at half-time against Wolves – or injured midfielder Kobe Maino are given the loan moves they are hoping for.

However, Amorim said no player or anyone else told him they wanted to leave.

“If you look at our team, I think it’s impossible for anyone to leave,” he said. “But they need to talk to them [director of football] Jason [Wilcox]”.

In addition to the wing-backs, United are known to be keen on employing central midfielders but their main targets, England duo Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson, as well as Brighton’s Carlos Paleba, are not thought to be realistic targets this month.

The club have also been linked with former Wolves captain Ruben Neves, whose future at Saudi club Al Hilal in the professional league is in doubt, and former academy player James Garner, who has impressed since his £15m move to Everton in 2022.

However, on Friday, after previously suggesting United could make at least one signing this month, Amorim said he did not expect new players to arrive.

He said: “We do not have any talks at the moment about making any change in the lineup.”