Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd squad: Keep, loan or sell?

New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has a huge job on his hands to turn the Old Trafford club around.

Although Erik ten Hag spent lavishly, he has left a squad that still needs dramatic surgery and will be dramatically altered by Amorim.

Most notably, the tactics will change. The new head coach will deploy a 3-4-3 system and that will mean changing the profile of some of the players at the club. Indeed, he is already eyeing the possibility of offloading a quarter of flops during the January transfer window.

So of the men in the Man Utd squad that Amorim finds himself in charge of, who will he keep, who will he loan out and who will he sell?

GOALKEEPERS

Andre Onana – KEEP – Shown notable improvement since some early blunders, and though not ideal, is not someone United need to be looking to change immediately.

Altay Bayindir – KEEP – Seems happy to act as an understudy to Onana, so no need to rock the boat.

Tom Heaton – KEEP – A veteran third-choice option. He’s all United need here.

DEFENDERS

Diogo Dalot – KEEP – One of the best performers at the club this season.

Jonny Evans – RELEASE – Evans is out of contract at the end of the season, and though a fine servant to the club, it’s time to move on.

Victor Lindelof – SELL – It’s simply not worked for Lindelof at Man Utd.

Harry Maguire – SELL – Amorim wants players comfortable in possession. Maguire’s best attributes are not technical.

Tyrell Malacia – LOAN – Needs first-team football after months ravaged with injury.

Lisandro Martinez – KEEP – His form has wavered in recent times, but left-sided centre-backs are not easy to come by and there are others who need moved on more desperately.

Luke Shaw – KEEP – Another to be hit by injury problems and if these continue the 29-year-old’s future has to be in question. He’s safe… for now.

Leny Yoro – KEEP – Bound to be a mainstay of the team for years to come.

Noussair Mazraoui – KEEP – Signed from Bayern Munich, he is one of Ten Hag’s better pieces of business.

Matthijs de Ligt – LOAN – An expensive mistake. United will be hard pushed to sell him on, so loaning him out might be the only realistic option.

MIDFIELDERS

Mason Mount – SELL – United need to cut their losses on the former Chelsea man, although finding a buyer will be no easy task.

Bruno Fernandes – KEEP – Attitude continues to be questioned, but if Amorim can’t get the best from the playmaker, no one will.

Christian Eriksen – RELEASE – Out of contract next summer, it’s time to say goodbye to the veteran.

Casemiro – SELL – Saudi is calling for the veteran Brazilian.

Kobbie Mainoo – KEEP – Obviously.

Manuel Ugarte – KEEP – Showed in flashes what he is capable of against Chelsea. Played in the correct role, he can still be a big success.

FORWARDS

Rasmus Hojlund – KEEP – Hasn’t delivered on his promise this season but still finding his feet after injury.

Marcus Rashford – SELL – Probably won’t fit into Amorim’s ideal system and is in the midst of another poor campaign statistically. His profile is far greater than his ability.

Amad Diallo – KEEP – Yet to get a real opportunity to shine with a run of first-team games.

Antony – SELL – Offloading the winger will be easier said than done, so a loan may be required.

Alejandro Garnacho – KEEP – Will be earmarked as one of Amorim’s No.10s.

Joshua Zirkzee – LOAN – It looks like the leap to United was too big for the Dutchman, but given time at the right club, he can still come good.