MANCHESTER — Ruben Amorim has expressed a lack of optimism regarding potential signings in the January transfer window, stating there are currently “no discussions” about enhancing his squad this month.
This marks a shift in tone for the Manchester United manager, who previously stated “we will see” when asked about possible January arrivals.
United had shown interest in Antoine Semenyo, but the Bournemouth winger opted to pursue discussions with Manchester City instead.
On Boxing Day, Amorim mentioned that there are times when his vision for recruitment diverges from that of director of football Jason Wilcox and the board, emphasizing the necessity of finding “common ground” before any new players are brought in.
It appears that the Portuguese coach will navigate January without additional reinforcements, despite facing a shortage of eight senior players due to injuries and international commitments.
“The transfer window is not going to change,” Amorim noted during a press conference on Friday. “We have no conversations at this moment regarding any changes in the squad. There’s a process and an idea that will continue.” He added, “We are near the Champions League spots, but we are also close to about eight teams behind us. So let’s concentrate on the next game, just that. Our objective is to win the next match.”
Amorim’s squad will travel to Leeds on Sunday, hoping to rebound from a disappointing 1-1 draw against bottom-placed Wolves.
Leeds are currently enjoying a six-game unbeaten streak that has helped them pull seven points clear of the relegation zone.
United are sidelined with numerous first-team players absent, including Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire, while Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui are participating in the Africa Cup of Nations.
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Amorim does not anticipate having any players back for the match at Elland Road, where Manchester United has not experienced a league loss since 2002.
“No new issues; we’ll assess everything tomorrow [Saturday] after one more training session,” Amorim stated. “I don’t expect anyone to recover, but we’ll see. I understand it’s a significant derby, a fantastic atmosphere, and a fierce rivalry. However, every game in the Premier League is challenging for us. It’s just another match; I know it means a lot to the fans, but we need to go in and strive for victory.”