Ruben Amorim has told any player considering a January exit that the needs of Manchester United come first when considering any transfer dealings.
The likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee have been linked with loan moves away from Old Trafford in the next transfer window.
Both have featured this season, but have had to make do with bit-part roles and a few minutes here and there off the substitutes’ bench.
Mainoo has made seven Premier League appearances this campaign, all off the bench, while Zirzkee has seen all four of his league outings come as a sub.
Amorim recognises that players are keen to play, especially with a World Cup coming up next summer, but says that the needs of the club will come first when it comes to transfer decisions.
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If Manchester United feel they need their squad players in the second half of the season, then exits are unlikely.
‘The first thing is that the club comes first, so we have to think about the club and the team, and then everything can happen,’ said Amorim.
‘I was a football player, I understand everything, and I want to help my players in every situation, so I don’t know what is going to happen.
‘I want my players to be happy. I understand the frustration of some players, seeing that the World Cup is there, and I know what it means for the World Cup, but Manchester United comes first. So if I can help the club and the players, I will be happy, if not I have to think about the team.’
While he wants options in his squad, Amorim also says that it is unworkable to have players in the squad who are unlikely to feature.
Rasmus Hojlund 2025/26 stats
Napoli
Apps: 11
Goals: 4
Assists: 1
The Red Devils are currently without Benjamin Sesko through injury and are a little short of options up top while Rasmus Hojlund is on loan at Napoli.
The manager says it would not work to have Hojlund in the squad only there to play when Sesko is injured and now is the time to have academy players ready to fill in or versatile options elsewhere in his team.
‘Our thinking is that we need two strikers. Sometimes I prefer players that make two positions, because sometimes in these clubs it’s hard to make everyone happy,’ he said.
‘Imagine that Rasmus is here, and you say: “If Ben has an injury, you have more time to play”. It’s impossible to manage a dressing room like that, so that’s why we need to improve the kids from academy.
‘If you have an injury that is the opportunity for them, and then to have players that can play in different positions, for us to manage the team in a better way.’
Looking to those options from the academy, Chido Obi is the obvious candidate to get some minutes in the first team while Sesko is out.
The 17-year-old is very highly rated and made seven Premier League appearances last season, but is yet to feature this campaign.
‘He played last year, I think it was too soon,’ Amorim said of the Danish teenager. ‘We didn’t have a team that we can put a young kid with 16 [in], that he will not struggle, or will struggle a little bit.
‘It was completely necessary to do that but I think he started too soon, and sometimes it’s hard to deal with that.’