Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim will be keen to strengthen a number of areas in January, with left-back an area he will look to target after injuries to Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw this season
Manchester United’s recent results may have caused some concern with Ruben Amorim as he looks to the January transfer window in just a couple of weeks’ time.
United looked vulnerable at the back in their 4-3 defeat to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, which saw them go 3-0 down just after the second half began, and Amorim will have identified a few areas he wants to strengthen.
The team already appear light at left-back and may need more depth in attack if players like Marcus Rashford or Antony depart in January.
Mirror Football has rounded up the latest transfer stories and rumours circulating around Old Trafford.
United make first signing under Ruben Amorim
Manchester United fans might not have to wait long for the first signing of the Ruben Amorim era after reports that their deal for 17-year-old teenage left-back Diego Leon is done and dusted.
United have been heavily linked with the 18-year-old Paraguayan, who plays for local side Cerro Porteno, and now Fabrizio Romano has claimed “all documents” have been signed by the player.
The Red Devils would only be able to join next summer, when he turns 18, if the move is confirmed.
The report claims technical director Jason Wilcox was key to the move after the player was spotted by scout Giuseppe Antonaccio – with United said to be paying just £3.8million for the youngster’s services.
Amorim has made no secret he is looking for more cover at left-back but the news that Leon can only join next summer means he’ll likely be forced into the market for depth in that position next month.
Rashford chased by three Saudi teams
Rashford’s future will be talked about for most of next month until he eventually finds a suitor after revealing he wants to leave Manchester United.
Amorim has made it clear he wants to keep hold of Rashford, but after leaving him out of the last two matchday squads his future has a huge question mark hanging over it and the England star seems nailed on to depart.
Reports of Saudi interest in Rashford was reported earlier this week but now the frontrunners from the Middle East have been revealed. According to talkSport, Al-Ahli are said to be the team with the biggest interest, while Al-Ittihad and Al-Qadsiah are also monitoring the situation.
If Al-Ahli want to move ahead with their interest in Rashford, they will have to offload at least one of their foreign stars to meet the threshold – and ex-Liverpool man Roberto Firmino is one player who could be sold.
Rashford is said to prefer a move to a European club, though very few teams will be able to afford his £325,000-a-week wages plus an expected transfer fee of £40million on top of it, so he could have his head turned by Saudi riches.
Pogba “has several options”
Former United midfielder Paul Pogba has been linked with a stunning return to Old Trafford as he prepares to complete his doping ban that was reduced from four years to just 18 months.
The Frenchman can start playing football again in March and train with a new team from January, and now Fabrizio Romano has reported on the latest update from Pogba’s camp.
He denied claims that Manchester City have invited him to their training ground and said Pep Guardiola’s men were not in talks with him. That move would have infuriated United fans, though his new club is still unknown.
Romano adds that he is open to “several options” and is ready to start training with a new club in the New Year.
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