Manchester United 'trying everything' to sign players, says Ruben Amorim

Ruben Amorim stated that Manchester United are “doing everything” to strengthen their squad before the transfer window closes after another home defeat, but he will not repeat “past mistakes.” The 40-year-old coach also said that it wouldn't be a problem for his team if Marcus Rashford started scoring for Aston Villa, as his own side is struggling to find the back of the net.

Unwanted striker Rashford has joined Villa on loan until the end of the season. He admitted that he would not have received playing time had he remained at Old Trafford. The 27-year-old is just two goals shy of being United's joint-top scorer this season, despite not playing since December 12. In a 0-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace, United failed to score again, meaning they have only managed 28 Premier League goals this season, with only Everton and the bottom three – Ipswich, Leicester, and Southampton – having scored fewer.

When asked about the prospect of Rashford scoring for Villa while United struggle, Amorim said: “Embarrassing? It’s not embarrassing. When you loan a player, you expect him to play and improve, so there is nothing embarrassing about it.” Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood has scored the same number of goals on his own as United have managed at home this season, with 17. Rasmus Hojlund has seven goals in all competitions and Joshua Zirkzee has four. Both players, who cost over £100 million combined, were left out of Amorim’s starting lineup against Crystal Palace, with Kobbie Mainoo selected as a false nine. It was an ultimately unsuccessful experiment.

United are rumored to be further bolstering Amorim’s squad on the final day of the transfer window, although insiders are playing down the possibility. Deals for Bayern Munich's Mathys Tel and Chelsea striker Christopher Nkunku are considered unlikely. Still, after spending £25 million on Lecce defender Patrick Dorgu and signing Arsenal youngster Aiden Heaven in the past 48 hours, it is unclear whether the club would need to sell players to fund further signings. “We are doing everything to improve the team without making the mistakes of the past, while also trying to balance the urgency of the moment,” said Amorim. “We know all the situations we have at our club at the moment, but we are doing everything.”

“This market is really difficult for the club to get some deals done. I am very keen to improve the level of the team. I know what the team needs. Sometimes it is possible, sometimes it is not. When the window closes, we will see the players we have.” Clearly, United need something to lift morale. They have lost five of their last six Premier League home games under Amorim. Incredibly, that means Amorim has lost more league games at Old Trafford than Jose Mourinho (four in four-and-a-half years) and as many as Louis van Gaal (five in two seasons). However, there are concerns about United’s ability in the transfer market. Antony, signed from Ajax for £81.3 million, has joined Real Betis on loan. Tyrell Malacia, a £13 million signing in 2022, also appears set to leave Old Trafford. Neither has proven value for money, and there are many others in Amorim’s squad who could be similarly accused, which is why the club’s profit and sustainability situation has been repeatedly described as “tight.”

Transfer deadline day will be a crucial one for Manchester United and Ruben Amorim. The reality of the club’s finances is that it will not be possible to spend like Pep Guardiola at Manchester City at Old Trafford. But the reality of the weeks since Amorim arrived from Sporting Lisbon means that if there are no further arrivals before the window closes, United will struggle to move away from the bottom half of the Premier League – and that, in turn, will leave the Portuguese under more scrutiny heading into the 2025-26 season and with less money available to bring in more players. The question is who. Amorim can deflect the goalscoring issue, but if he really had faith in Hojlund or Zirkzee, he would not be rotating them or leaving them both out as he did today. Guardiola would not rotate Erling Haaland, and Arne Slot would not rotate Mo Salah. At this stage of the window, there is limited money available, and nothing is guaranteed. But United have to take a risk. They must at least try. If they don’t, then it will be Amorim who feels the pressure.