Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim admits he faces tricky situation in January: 'A lot of things can happen'

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has admitted he expects a flurry of transfer requests ahead of the January transfer window from players who have not been spending enough time on the pitch, with the FIFA World Cup set to take place next year.

And among the players most likely to make an exit in January – either on loan or on a permanent basis – are Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo.

Dutch forward Zirkzee has not made a single start this season and has made only five appearances off the bench, with Amorim preferring his summer signings Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko in the attack.

English midfielder Mainoo too has gone down the pecking order under the Portuguese boss in recent months and will be hopeful of making a mid-season exit. The Red Devils, incidentally, had turned down his request to leave the club at the end of the summer transfer window.

More from Football

Tottenham vs Man United Highlights: FT TOT 2-2 MUN; De Ligt's last-gasp equaliser rescues a point for Red Devils 'Take a bow!': Manchester United fans hail Amad Diallo after Ivorian winger rescues point against Nottingham Forest

Zirkzee, Mainoo and other fringe players eager for regular game time

Zirkzee and Mainoo are also among a group of players who are struggling to retain their place in the national teams, and are desperate for some regular game time in club football with months to go for FIFA’s showpiece event in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

“A lot of things can happen,” Amorim, whose team faces Nottingham Forest in an away league game on Saturday, said at a recent press conference. “Even in our club, and you know that we have the World Cup, some players are not playing, they will ask to leave, so I have to manage everything.”

Also Read | Manchester United’s next big thing? Ruben Amorim begins talks to sign 16-year-old goal machine

Amorim also hinted at United making moves in the winter transfer window despite spending close to £250 million on summer signings – which led to a complete overhaul of their attack.

“We want to bring players, everyone here, we want to bring players that we can see a big future in Manchester United,” Amorim continued.

“We are not just buying one guy, because now we feel in December that we need this kind of player for now. We want to buy players that we know we are not going to change a lot of times, so that is our idea.

“I don’t know what is going to happen, but of course we think about how we can improve the team, and in January the window is open, we can do something,” he added.

Also Read | Man United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe says no to Ruben Amorim's pursuit of iconic striker

While United had struggled badly last season, finishing 15th on the Premier League table that has left them without European football this year, the 20-time English top-flight champions find themselves on the rise again with three consecutive wins – including a 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield.