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The timing of the international break might not have been ideal for Manchester United, given their recent surge in form.
It’s been a while since we could make such a statement! United’s five-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League has propelled them to within four points of second place. Manager Ruben Amorim is finally gaining significant traction at Old Trafford.
Even more encouraging for Amorim is the fact that United’s upcoming fixtures include only one opponent from the league’s top eight, sixth-placed Aston Villa, over the next ten games.
Could Joshua Zirkzee step up with Benjamin Sesko sidelined by injury?
The summer decision to let Rasmus Hojlund leave and rely on a single dedicated striker meant United were taking a gamble with their forward line.
While Matheus Cunha is the most likely replacement for Sesko for the foreseeable future, the situation around Zirkzee has taken on greater significance now.
Joshua Zirkzee had been set to leave in January as he seeks more minutes
Zirkzee has had the second-fewest minutes of any United outfield player this season
Man United Confidential was first to report Zirkzee’s frustrations with his current situation and how he will look for a move away in January should minutes not prove forthcoming between now and the transfer window. AS Roma are closely monitoring his availability and are interested in a loan, potentially with a view to a permanent deal.
Zirkzee has had the second-fewest minutes of any United outfield player this season – only youngster Tyler Fredricson has had fewer.
It is worth noting, too, he has had just 90 minutes of football across 12 appearances. Since September 15, Zirkzee has been given just 13 minutes of game time.
But some of those close to the player now feel a crucial opportunity is opening up for Zirkzee to make a case for more regular game time.
How he is used – or not – in the upcoming match against Everton is said to be ‘one to watch’ with a view to what will follow come January. Play little to no role and expect alarm bells to start ringing – again – with the Dutchman.
So, what can fans expect in the January window?
The feeling for a while now is that United are looking more at market opportunities than going into January fixed on landing long-term targets like Elliot Anderson or Adam Wharton.
Senior United figures do not believe the English midfield duo, or Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, are likely winter window transfers, but don’t rule out a more low-cost option such as Wolves’ Joao Gomes.
Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton are probably out of United’s price range in January
Don’t rule out a more low-cost option such as Wolves’ Joao Gomes to fill United’s midfield needs
Antoine Semenyo is one to watch, even if Liverpool are viewed as frontrunners in that particular pursuit, and expect United to be watching Marc Guehi’s situation with interest given his contract will be six months from expiring.
A centre back is on the agenda with limited progress made on extending Harry Maguire’s deal, which expires in the summer. He will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with clubs abroad in around six weeks’ time as things stand.
While United are not expecting significant activity in January, they are not ruling out bringing forward moves for summer targets if the chance presents itself. Look at how they made a late play to get Baleba, a player who remains their No 1 target, in the summer.
Which midfielder would you sign?
Anderson. (Elliot, that is, not United’s former Brazilian).
Major surgery is required on the midfield engine room after United let Christian Eriksen walk out the door on a free and sent Toby Collyer out on loan, with Kobbie Mainoo out of favour and Ruben Amorim reliant on a resurgent, but 33-year-old, Casemiro.
The long-term plan has been to undergo the extensive surgery in the summer of 2026 now that the club believe they have ready-made players set for other positions.
The issue with Anderson is that Nottingham Forest are notoriously difficult to negotiate with, he’s set to play a starring role at the World Cup as one of the focal points of Thomas Tuchel’s England, and is going to cost in excess of £100million as a result of that.
The issue with Anderson is that Nottingham Forest are notoriously difficult to negotiate with and he’s going to cost in excess of £100million
Anderson is also under contract until 2029 and seen as unlikely to agitate for any move.
But having missed out on Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham previously, there are those that think Manchester United simply cannot miss out on one of the best young English players again.
If it were me making the decisions at Old Trafford, I’d pool all my resources into making Anderson the centre of a midfield rebuild.
Do the leadership care about the academy or do they just pretend like they care?
There is absolutely no escaping the fact that Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments about the academy – in which he said standards there had ‘really slipped’ – led to numerous awkward conversations.
They put coaching staff and club executives in a bind with disgruntled parents and agents, while some staff felt Ratcliffe had put them in a lose-lose situation in terms of addressing it.
But, from someone who watches and follows the academy teams very closely, there are numerous figures that do care a great deal about the success and failings of the academy.
Director of football Jason Wilcox is very hands on when it comes to the academy and routinely attends matches. Figures close to players at various age levels have told Daily Mail Sport how impressed they have been with the 54-year-old.
There is no escaping the fact that Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments about the academy – in which he said standards there had ‘really slipped’ – led to numerous awkward conversations
Darren Fletcher has gone down as a real hit in his first proper coaching gig with the Under 18s
Stephen Torpey is still settling in as academy director but his CV speaks for itself, while Darren Fletcher has gone down as a real hit in his first proper coaching gig with the Under 18s.
Ratcliffe may be relatively non-plussed but those with boots on the ground do care. Take that from someone who sees the same executive faces at matches from Middlesbrough to Chelsea.
Who can we expect to be loaned out in January?
This is a hot topic behind the scenes right now.
EFL scouts have been turning up in their droves across recent months, all with different assignments, some often there to watch the same player.
There’s a lot of interest in Shea Lacey but United are not currently entertaining offers for the 18-year-old.
Sekou Kone was primed to head to Lausanne in the summer before United U-turned on that plan, instead preferring to keep him in house. His fractured eye socket against Tamworth has delayed his development this season and all options are currently being weighed up for the Mali midfielder.
The ones to keep an eye on going into January are Gabriele Biancheri, who is eager to test himself out on loan, James Scanlon and Jayce Fitzgerald.
The success of Ethan Williams in Scotland with Falkirk has a number of teams up there looking closely at Gibraltar international Scanlon.
There’s a lot of interest in Shea Lacey but United are not currently entertaining offers for the 18-year-old
Fitzgerald is one of the top players at the Under-21 age group and needs to test himself in men’s football. There are a handful of clubs in League One putting together pitches for the young midfielder.
Biancheri wanted to go out on loan in the summer but was kept back as striker competition. Some scouts see Biancheri as a wide player due to his smaller frame and much of the focus for any loan will be on where he would play.
Wilcox, Amorim, Fletcher and Under 21s boss Travis Binnion are all clued into the discussions about youth player loans, with Jonny Evans leading the department.
Those familiar with those conversations say that in mid-November, nothing is definitive on any of the players mentioned above but all are being considered for temporary exits.
What is Ruben Amorim like to deal with?
This is one of those questions that comes up whenever it emerges you cover Manchester United.
Amorim is very direct but he’s easy to deal with and often likes to exchange a joke or two with the regulars who speak to him each week.
Early on he was guilty of – from the club’s point of view – being too honest, for example in calling his side the ‘worst’ in Manchester United history.
He’s slightly more careful now. But he understands the job we do and plenty of other Premier League managers can be far more hostile.
Ruben Amorim is very direct but he’s easy to deal with and often likes to exchange a joke or two with the regulars who speak to him each week
Which academy players, if any, could we see in action during AFCON, with Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui potentially gone for a month?
Honestly, not too many.
I would love for a slew of youngsters to be fast-tracked into the squad but that’s not going to happen.
Lacey is the clear frontrunner to make his first-team debut between now and January while Jack Fletcher, whom Amorim likes a lot, is second in my academy standings.
Fletcher has trained with the first team on a much more regular basis in recent weeks and is coming close to firmly establishing himself as a viable squad option heading into a busy winter period.
Shouts for Jaydan Kamason and Bendito Mantato seem premature to me, not least because Kamason has spent the past month out with injury and Mantato is currently away with England’s Under 17s at the World Cup.
Lacey is understood to have been very close to making the bench for the Sunderland home game, before falling one place short.
But with Mbeumo and Diallo vacating the right side for AFCON, opportunity knocks. And with Wilcox and Amorim taking a hands-on approach to his training and game programme in recent weeks, this one feels imminent.
Jaydan Kamason is a hot topic among United fans – but he’s been out injured and shouldn’t be expected to figure soon
What’s going on with the Under 18s?
Fletcher’s side started the season brilliantly, winning their first five games without conceding, but things have tapered off ever so slightly of late.
Since beating Wolves 4-0 on September 20, Fletcher’s side have lost three of the following five games, drawing their most recent two matches 0-0 to Blackburn Rovers and Leeds respectively.
They are fourth in the table, seven points off league leaders Manchester City having played a game more.
But after Fletcher’s appointment, it was made clear to parents and players that individual development was going to be at least as big a priority as results.
JJ Gabriel, who only turned 15 last month, has been a shining light in the side, developing as both a central attacker as well as wide on the left.
Kai Rooney, who turned 16 two weeks ago, has been pushed to step up
Kai Rooney, 16 as of two weeks ago, is another that has been pushed to step up as part of a young side which also includes Nathaniel Junior-Brown (16), Jariyah Shah (16) and Noah Ajayi (16).
For those fans who want to see this emerging team in person, keep an eye out for fixture details for the FA Youth Cup home tie against Peterborough United.
The tie is slated to be played in the second week of December and will represent the first ‘home’ match the general public will have been able to see this current crop play.
And while the Youth Cup does have age restriction rules, the minimum requirement does not extend to the Premier League, so both Gabriel and Rooney – son of United legend Wayne – are eligible to feature in the competition, just as Max Dowman did for Arsenal last year.