Joshua Zirkzee, Kobbie Mainoo: Man United exodus plan revealed
Man United have enjoyed a major turnaround in their fortunes in recent weeks with Ruben Amorim now considered secure in his role at Old Trafford.
Amorim’s side drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest last time out, and are now unbeaten in four Premier League games with positive progress clear to see.
This came after Sir Jim Ratcliffe publicly backed Amorim, and is now prepared to back him in the transfer window to continue with ambitious plans for the future.
However, while a number of incoming players are on United’s list, they are preparing for a number of players on the fringes of the squad to push for moves away.
Among those players are both Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee, who have been left frustrated with their lack of regular playing time under Amorim.
Ruben Amorim plans to block Man United exits
Man United are reluctant to lose Mainoo or Zirkzee in the mid-season window despite their reported desires to seek moves away from Old Trafford.
Amorim is planning to keep both players as key options for rotation in his squad, while they will be called upon if United suffer any major injuries to starting players.
That is according to former Man United chief scout Mick Brown, who worked at Old Trafford for over a decade during the club’s most successful period, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the boss wants to keep his squad strong despite a lack of rotation.
“Ruben Amorim does not want to lose players in January,” he told Football Insider.
“It’s United’s own fault that they’re in this situation, particularly for the way Kobbie Mainoo has been treated since the summer window was open.
“He was one of their top performers last season, so all of a sudden for him to be barely getting a kick and entertaining offers, that’s not a good situation to be in.
“But I still don’t think they’ll be open to losing him mid-way through the season because as an option either off the bench or for rotation, he’s very important.
“The same goes for Zirkzee, he’s been sidelined for a while, but he’s still the type of player you’d want in your squad even if he’s not playing every game.
“Whether he’s happy with that, I’m not sure, but from the manager’s point of view he wants to keep him around because he’s a good depth option.
“You never know if you’re going to pick up a couple of injuries or something like that, and all of a sudden these are the players you need to be calling on.
“So I think it’s very unlikely that they’ll be letting those two leave in January, and the same goes for a number of players on the fringes of the squad.”
Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo could push for January exits
Football Insider revealed on 1 November that Man United will block Zirkzee’s exit in January as he remains an important part of the manager’s plans.
However, Zirkzee is frustrated at Man United and is expected to push to leave the club in the mid-season window amid growing interest from a number of top sides.
West Ham and Everton are eyeing Zirkzee and could make moves to keep him in the Premier League, while there is also growing interest from Serie A.
Meanwhile, Football Insider revealed on 31 October that Man United will not let Mainoo leave despite him being out of favour under Amorim’s leadership.
The 20-year-old has not started a single Premier League game for Man United this season, and has been keen to leave in search of more regular playing time.
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