Man Utd’s dream January as Amorim replacement hired and Neves transfer agreed | Football | Sport

Manchester United face a hectic January. On top of potential incomings and outgoings in the winter transfer window, their two searches for a caretaker manager – and a permanent replacement for Ruben Amorim – are underway. Express Sport looks at what a perfect month could look like at Old Trafford…

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer returns

Darren Fletcher has been installed as the immediate caretaker ahead of tonight’s trip to Burnley. But United ideally want an interim with greater experience than the Scot, and the perfect solution could be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Norwegian club legend has already managed 168 games as United boss, and for a long time did well until things soured in his final campaign. He left with a 54 win percentage. The 52-year-old made the Red Devils exciting to watch after Jose Mourinho and has ample experience of the pressures of being charge at Old Trafford.

Solskjaer has the ability to take United back to the Champions League, and that is obviously the priority of this season. An FA Cup run wouldn’t go amiss either.

Verbal agreement struck

Solskjaer might be the temporary solution, but he’s not the permanent fix. United need to ensure that, at the same time, they are putting things in place for the next long-term appointment too. Oliver Glasner is a manager who makes a tonne of sense for United.

A history of trophies, success in the Premier League with Crystal Palace, greater tactical flexibility than Amorim and an intense but affable personality. Best of all, he’s out of contract at Palace in the summer. That means United can appoint him for nothing.

An ideal January would say inroads made with Glasner’s representatives, and perhaps even a private verbal agreement, for the Austrian, 51, to take charge at United at the end of the season.

Ruben Neves transfer agreed

Amorim suggested he was frustrated because January signings were unlikely. But one option this month who would significantly strengthen the Man Utd squad is Ruben Neves, who they are known to have made contact about.

Bruno Fernandes‘ Portugal team-mate is out of contract at Al Hilal this summer, and the Saudi side have offered him a new deal which Neves rejected. The former Wolves man is still only 28 and can offer the kind of game-controlling midfielder United do not have in their squad right now.

A salary decrease would be required but a deal could be done for this month at a reasonable price. Al Hilal would rather sell now than lose him as a free agent, meaning a mid-season transfer of around £20million could be agreed. He would be a handy successor to Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte.

Kobbie Mainoo stays

One player who struggled for game time under Amorim was Kobbie Mainoo. The 20-year-old England international has played just 212 Premier League minutes this season, after struggling to hold down a permanent starting spot under the Portuguese coach last season too.

But Mainoo had looked a player with a huge future under Erik ten Hag towards the end of the 2023-24 season and even started the Euro 2024 final for England. Now that Amorim has gone, United have to ensure their next caretaker manager – be it Solskjaer, Fletcher or Michael Carrick – gets him playing again.

Were Mainoo to leave for a Premier League rival, United would surely regret it for years to come. Keeping him this month is crucial, and he can then be brought back into the team over the coming weeks. He might even be able to break back into the England squad for the World Cup.