These THREE players are untouchable! Manchester United ‘new’ manager Ruben Amorim – The Week

Manchester United’s scouting and transfers have become a joke over the years, critics and some (desperate) fans often point out. Erik Ten Hag’s “Ajax-oriented” signings didn’t help either, they claim, pointing out how the club have failed to offload the stars they want in recent transfer windows.

With 39-year-old Ruben Amorim set to take over as the new manager of the former Premier League champions, the Portuguese has been clearly instructed to do as he pleases with the current squad, apart from three young guns…

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That’s right. According to a news report, Manchester United have told Amorim, who arrives from Lisbon-based Sporting CP to replace Ten Hag, that he is free to do as he likes with anyone in the current lineup, but for those three players who cannot be sold at any price.

Manchester United’s untouchables, who are they?

The word “young” helps filter out many names from the road. It is clear that Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Andre Onana are not young anymore, neither are captain Bruno Fernandes or Marcus Rashford. So who are these three gentlemen who have become important to the decision-makers at Old Trafford?

According to SportBible Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund and Kobbie Mainoo are the three who have been ruled “out” for Amorim.

England midfielder Mainoo, 19, is a product of the United academy. Scouted and brought into the United ranks at the age of nine, Mainoo signed his first professional contract with the club in the 2022-23 season. In March 2024, Mainoo was called up to the national side after performing well for England at under-17, under-18 and under-19 level. Since his debut, the teenage sensation of Ghanaian origin has made 32 appearances in total for United.

Rasmus Højlund

Denmark’s Rasmus Højlund, 21, arrived at Drømmenes Teater from Serie A side Atalanta in 2023. The striker has so far scored 11 times for United from 35 games across competitions and is seen as the next big thing from Scandinavia after Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. Injuries prevented Hojlund from featuring consistently under Erik Ten Hag after arriving from Italy for an initial fee of £64m plus £8m in performance-related add-ons. Recent reports suggest United believe Hojlund can live up to the legacy of Wayner Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy or even Cristiano Ronaldo under the right guidance.

Alejandro Garnacho

Argentinian Garnacho, 20, is the highest rated of the three. The 2024 Copa America winner idolizes Cristiano despite being from Lionel Messi’s country. Madrid-born Garnacho started out with Getafe before moving to Atletico Madrid in 2015. However, United came knocking with a £420,000 prize-tag and reached England in 2020. Since making his senior debut in 2020, Alejandro Garnacho has often been the only ray of light for the fans in what is otherwise pitch darkness. His daring runs down the wings to curl balls and CR7-like celebrations have already cheered up dull Old Trafford stands several times. Garnacho grew from a super-sub to a starter and has played 66 times for United so far, scoring 12 times.

What’s happening at Manchester United?

On October 28, Manchester United fired their manager Erik ten Hag. The news came a day after the former champions were beaten 2-1 by West Ham United in the English top flight, pushing them further down to fourteenth in the table. Manchester United assistant manager and former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will take over on an interim basis while they search for a new manager, the club said in a statement.

Erik ten Hag was appointed in April 2022 and led United to two domestic trophies – the League Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024. But the 54-year-old’s job was the subject of speculation for most of last season as United suffered a worst-ever eighth-place finish in the Premier League and exited the Champions League in the group stage, and the Dutchman found himself firmly in the hot seat again this season amid a dismal start to the campaign. United have won four of their 14 games in all competitions so far this term and endured damaging 3-0 defeats against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford. They have taken 11 points from nine games in the Premier League, which is far short of the target, the club said, to reach their goal of fourth place.

READ ALSO | Era over! Manchester United fire manager Erik ten Hag

When British billionaire and INEOS chairman Jim Ratcliffe took over football operations last season, the club initially stuck with Ten Hag to have continuity in the managerial position at a time of change, but United saw no momentum or progress to believe that they were on the right. path. A poor start to the season also saw United draw their first three Europa League games from winning positions.

The latest reports claim that the Red Devils are willing to pay €10m. exit clause for Ruben Amorim to become the new manager at Old Trafford. Sporting also confirm having received formal communication from the English club.