Manchester United are currently in 12th place in the Premier League after beating Southampton 3-1 at Old Trafford on Thursday thanks to a 12-minute hat-trick from 22-year-old Amad Diallo.
Now that Ruben Amorim is in this third month at the club, he has a clearer picture of his ideal team, formation and starting XI. – He does not include one of former manager Erik ten Hag’s favourites in his plans.
According to Voetbal International, Tyrell Malacia has “reached an agreement” to leave the club on loan until the end of the season after only two Premier League games so far this season.
The report suggests that Malacia’s destination is still unclear, but journalist Joost Blaauwhof claims “sources close to the player” have confirmed that he will leave United in the January transfer window. Malacia (25) joined United from Feyenoord for £13 million in the summer of 2022. In his first season, he appeared 39 times and was one of Erik ten Hag’s key players.
However, he has struggled to stay fit consistently and even been out for 17 months with a serious knee injury before returning during an U21s EFL trophy match against Huddersfield in November.
He returned to the senior squad later that month and started as a left-back during the 3-2 Europa League win over Bodo/Glimt with Amorim, 39, explaining how the Dutchman did “very well”.
“It was huge for him, the trust of everybody, I think he did really well,” he told MUTV. “It was more than a year without playing and the way he behaved, so brave with the ball, I’m very happy with him.”
It is unclear whether United will look for a replacement.
However, reports from Caught Offside suggest that “Amorim wants to bring in” Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, although he is unlikely to come cheap with Transfermarkt valuing the player at around £30 million. Ait-Nouri, 23, has a contract with Wolves until the end of the 2025/26 season.
The United boss discussed the prospect of new signings in December and admitted that this could prove difficult.
“We don’t have that opportunity [to sign] in January if we don’t take any players out,” Amorim said [via BBC Sport].
“You know the situation better than I do.
“It’s not that I come here knowing I can spend money to change the team.”
