Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim accepts £73.7m striker Benjamin Sesko has struggled at times in his first few weeks at the club but urged him not to take criticism from club legends personally.
Sesko has scored two goals in his first 11 appearances for United.
He last found the net against Sunderland at Old Trafford on 4 October and his performance at Nottingham Forest last weekend prompted former skipper Gary Neville to declare the Slovenia international was “miles off it” compared to fellow new arrivals Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
Amorim does accept there is substance to Neville’s comments. However, he also feels they lack the context of Sesko moving to a new league at the age of 22, having only spent two seasons in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig.
“I’m relaxed,” he said. “[But] he’s not relaxed.
“I understand how things are in football and he’s going to struggle. That is normal. He has no experience here.
“The first impact [is] when everyone says that you are so good, you are the next big thing and you hear that about Sesko.
“Then you come to one club that is the hardest club. If you don’t perform every week, you are going to hear a lot of things from club legends, from pundits, from the media – and sometimes they are right.
“Of course, nobody likes to hear but he struggled a little bit, and that is a fact. So, let’s embrace that.
“It is hard to hear but it’s not personal. It’s an opinion that is going to change in three weeks. Everything that is true today, in three weeks, could be a lie.”
Sesko is understood to be spending huge amounts of time at United’s Carrington training ground as he gets an understanding of the performance levels he is delivering compared to those he is required to meet.
He often arrives more than 90 minutes earlier than the normal meeting time of 09:45 and does not leave until 16:00, long after most of his team-mates.
United sources remain confident they made the right decision to sign Sesko, while at the same time sending Rasmus Hojlund on loan to Napoli, even though the Dane has scored four times in nine appearances for the Italian champions.
“Ben is a young kid, a control freak,” said Amorim.
“He wants to control everything – and he’s not going to control everything.
“He has more potential than I was thinking [but] we need to understand how he likes to play and also to put in our ideas.
“I’m quite relaxed with that. He is going to be our striker for the long term but he’s going to have these struggles and these bumps during the ride. That is a normal thing in football.”
Ronaldo, who left United to join Real Madrid in 2009, rejoined the Old Trafford club from Juventus in August 2021.
However, he had his contract terminated in November 2022 after he criticised the club and said he had “no respect” for then manager Erik ten Hag in a previous interview with Morgan.
In his latest interview with the broadcaster, the 40-year-old said: “I’m sad, because the club is one of the most important clubs in the world and a club that I still have in my heart.
“They don’t have a structure. I hope that changes in the present and future, because the potential of the club is amazing.
“They are not on a good path. And it’s not only about the coach and players, in my opinion… He [manager Ruben Amorim] is doing his best. What are you going to do? Miracles are impossible.”
Amorim, who took charge of United in November 2024, led the club to last season’s Europa League final but they missed out on the trophy – and qualification for this season’s Champions League – as they lost to Tottenham.
They finished 15th in Premier League, their worst performance since the 1973-74 campaign in which they were relegated from the top flight.
They spent more than £200m in the summer but started this season slowly – including being knocked out of the Carabao Cup by League Two side Grimsby Town.
In an interview in March, Ratcliffe said the club had “not performed at the level that has been expected” since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson as manager at the end of the 2012-2013 season, adding that some United players were “not good enough” and some were “overpaid”.
Recently, United have shown an improvement in form, winning three of their past four league games – including a victory at Liverpool – and are eighth in the table.
Had Amorim’s one-year anniversary been marked on 1 October, judgement would have been almost exclusively negative.
At that point, only Tottenham of the 17 teams who remained in the Premier League throughout his tenure had fewer points than United’s 34 from 33 games. After three successive victories, Wolves and West Ham are also behind them now.
On Thursday, for the first time, Amorim was shortlisted for manager of the month. In his news conference he was asked about the possibility of Champions League qualification.
If they win at the City Ground, United will go second.
Even if it is only for a matter of hours, it will be the first time they have been that high, mid-season, since a victory at West Ham in September 2021, immediately before Solskjaer’s world unravelled.
Amorim warned of reading too much into his side’s current form. But three successive wins coupled with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ‘three-year’ comments, means a chronical of his first year does not read like an epitaph.
A month ago, the private stinging rebuke of one critic close to the dressing room was that Amorim’s enthralling news conferences were all he was good at.
Yet, while box office in their delivery, it is the part of the job he likes the least. He is emotional, which shows itself after games. But apart from solemn moments, when he speaks on behalf of the club on matters of importance, his words are not rehearsed.
His jovial nature is at odds with his intense and serious persona on the training ground – and his rather detached presence at times.
Last season, when media were allowed to observe the first 15 minutes of training before European games, it was noticeable that Amorim watched the routine sprints and rondos on his own, from a different pitch, sometimes 50 yards away.
This, it is explained, is partly because he has no role to play but also because he is using the time to think about the messaging he will deliver in the main session.
Filmed footage of his first training session last November shows Amorim telling midfielder Kobbie Mainoo exactly how many strides he needed to move after laying a pass off, then where to open his body out to create maximum passing angles.
This summer, sources said there were points where he had two players taking up the same positions in training, before running through different scenarios to ensure they moved into the right area of the pitch.
While this may seem peculiar it does make sense given Amorim knows which players fit into which slots in his team.
That first recorded session also showed Amorim working on speed in transition, especially defensive turnovers.
Finally, with gaps between games allowing full preparation weeks, this reinforced messaging is paying off. Awful days at Grimsby and Brentford are outliers rather than the norm.
United officials say now, as they have done consistently throughout the past 12 months, there has never been an internal conversation about Amorim’s future. The club’s hierarchy, from Ratcliffe down, is supportive. The aim for the season remains European qualification.
But have there been times when Amorim himself wondered if he would get this far?
“It’s hard to say,” he said. “There were some moments that were tough to deal with, to lose so many games, was so hard for me because this is Manchester United.
“Putting all the attention on Europa League and not winning, was massive.
“So, I had some moments that I struggled a lot, and was thinking maybe it’s not meant to be. Today is the opposite. Today I feel – and know – it was the best decision in my life, and I want to be here.”
KATIE Price has launched a fresh attack on ex Dwight Yorke, as son Harvey chants his name and wears Man United kit in a new video.
The former footie star, the father of Katie Price’s son Harvey, now 23, has had little to do with his first-born child, who has autism, Prada-Willi syndrome and septo-optic dysplasia.
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Katie Price has launched a fresh attack on ex Dwight YorkeCredit: GettyDwight’s son Harvey chanted his name in a new video while wearing Man United kitCredit: Katie Price via Backgrid
Katie has repeatedly criticized Dwight for his lack of involvement in Harvey’s life, claiming he “didn’t give a s**t.”
And she says the last time he saw Harvey was in 2012, and he told her he didn’t want to be in his life.
Now, in a new attack, Katie has shared a video of Harvey on her Instagram Stories, with him dressed in Man United kit.
Katie tells her son “go,” which leads him to start chanting:“oi oi yorkey.”
And the star has tagged both Man United and her ex Dwight in the new clip.
Dwight played for Manchester United, joining the club in 1998 and leaving in 2002.
In a 2023 interview, Katie said her mum contacts Dwight’s manager every year and asks if he wants to see Harvey for his birthday and she is always told “no”.
Back in May, Katie took a swipe at her ex in an interview saying that he cheated on her and was never around for Harvey.
“I was with Dwight Yorke, but he cheated on me and that ended anyway and he wasn’t around for Harv,” she said on podcast Outlet Ten Discussion.
“So, that’s a different thing. I fended for myself, for me and Harv.
“Even though Dwight is very welcome, any time, to come into Harvey’s life, because I’m not that kind of person.”
Dwight initially denied he was Harvey’s father after his birth but a DNA test showed he was.
In a 2009 book, Born to Score, Dwight denied claims he had abandoned Harvey saying: “From the moment I set eyes on the little fella, I have loved my son like I could never ever have imagined possible. I am not going to hear any more that I did not care for Harvey, or have any understanding of his needs or that I was not interested in his welfare.”
HARVEY’S HEARTBREAK
However, Katie says that Harvey has only seen his dad about nine times in his entire life.
Katie has made countless public appeals to Dwight to be part of Harvey’s life.
She says the situation “confuses” Harvey who doesn’t understand why other people get to see their dad and he doesn’t.
In 2019, Katie made a heart-wrenching plea to Dwight, in which Harvey himself said in a video: “Daddy Dwight. I love you Daddy Dwight. You look beautiful.”
Alongside the post, Katie wrote: “Anyone who knows Dwight Yorke please get him to contact his son. Harvey doesn’t deserve this.
“He sees his other son Tiger, so I don’t understand! He does charity work for different kids charities, yet doesn’t see or support his own son. I don’t get it!”
A rep for Dwight declined to comment when approached by The Sun. We also reached out to a rep for Katie.
Katie said her mum contacts Dwight’s manager every year and asks if he wants to see Harvey for his birthday and she is always told “no”Credit: Getty
It’s a bit of a mad one with Wayne this episode that includes Liverpool v Man Utd chat, his birthday weekend, opinions on England and Marcus Rashford, and meet-ups with 50 Cent and Ed Sheeran.
Wayne takes us inside his 40th birthday bash, but who did he dress up as? Which songs did he belt out on karaoke? And who ended up with a nasty injury?
Musician and Liverpool fan Jamie Webster joins Wayne, Kelly and Kae to discuss why their rivalry with Manchester United is the biggest in English football. But who is this match more important for: Arne Slot or Ruben Amorim?
Jamie’s appearance on the show leads to a number of musical revelations from Wayne: how did he end up on stage with 50 Cent? And Why did Coleen have to step in when he tried to change an Ed Sheeran song?
Wayne gives his thoughts on England’s World Cup qualification and explains why he’s pleased the players are less certain of their places under Thomas Tuchel. He also has strong words for Marcus Rashford’s recent comments about the “inconsistent environment” at Old Trafford not helping his form.
Meanwhile, we discover what led Wayne and Jermain Defoe to watch his entire wedding DVD together while they were away at the 2010 World Cup and what was Wayne gutted to find out on the last day at Glastonbury?
You can watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sport YouTube, iPlayer, as well as listen on BBC Sounds.
MANCHESTER UNITED are one of multiple Premier League clubs interested in Jobe Bellingham, younger brother of Real Madrid star Jude.
Bellingham, 20, followed in his brother’s footsteps when he left newly-promoted Sunderland to join German giants Borussia Dortmund in the summer.
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Jobe Bellingham has emerged as a target for Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
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Bellingham is an England youth internationalCredit: Getty
But now, according to reports from German outlet Bild, the midfielder’s next move could bring him back to the UK.
The highly-rated prospect has struggled to find minutes under manager Niko Kovac after starting in the opening two games of the season.
He has played just 74 minutes in the four league games since those games, and could grow frustrated at the lack of opportunities at the club, having been the main man at Sunderland last season.
These frustrations didn’t take long to boil over, with Jobe’s father Mark Bellingham reportedly storming to the dressing room to confront club officials after the youngster was substituted at half-time in their season opener against St Pauli.
United would pose an interesting option for the Stourbridge native to rekindle his meteoric rise, with their midfield struggles being one of their biggest issues under Ruben Amorim this season.
There is a sense that despite having much left to prove on the biggest stages, Bellingham could make an instant impact at Old Trafford.
However, if game time is the deal-breaker in Dortmund, then tales such as that of the consistently snubbed teenager Kobbie Mainoo could be a warning sign to steer clear.
Bellingham joined the Germans in summer for a fee of £27million, and it is hard to picture the Red Devils getting him for anything less than that.
Jude Bellingham spends quality time with his mother away from the football pitch
Another club interested in the England youth international’s services is reportedly Crystal Palace, who were also interested in him while he was with the Black Cats.
Palace have been excellent this season, sitting four places above United in sixth, despite having European football to contend with.
Manchester United coach Marc Skinner was quick to shut down an obvious line of questioning around his match-winner Maya Le Tissier after the club’s Champions League debut.
“Your next question is probably ‘should she start for England’,” he said. “I am not here to answer that.”
Despite becoming one of the most consistent defenders in the Women’s Super League, making a record 71st consecutive appearance in last week’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea, central defensive anchor Le Tissier has had limited exposure at international level.
Marshalled by Le Tissier, United had the WSL’s second-best defence last season, conceding just 16 goals in 22 games.
The United captain was rewarded with a place in Sarina Wiegman’s Euro 2025 squad, but did not play a single minute in Switzerland as the Lionesses retained their European title.
Eight caps since her first call-up in November 2022 is scant reward for a player of her ability. In the WSL this season, Le Tissier tops the rankings for most clearances (34) and most touches (444).
Wiegman has said she prefers Le Tissier at right-back, despite her playing at centre-back for United.
But injuries to England captain and centre-back Leah Williamson, plus right-back Lucy Bronze, must give Le Tissier a chance of playing when Weigman’s side take on Brazil and Australia later this month, with the Dutchwoman naming her squad next week.
Skinner was not keen to get involved in the debate but he was happy to extol the virtues of the 23-year-old, who kept her nerve to convert the first-half penalty that secured victory over Norwegian side Valerenga in Leigh in their league phase opener.
“She is [at the top of her game] and has been for a long time,” he said.
“I start her for a reason. She is an incredible footballer and a driven personality. When she gets her opportunity, she will be an incredible England stalwart and someone who will give the country pride.
“She is a fantastic player. I won’t answer the other question.”
OLD TRAFFORD continues to suffer from a rodent infestation after a fan claimed to catch a live MOUSE during the game between Manchester United and Sunderland.
A travelling Black Cats supporter shared a post to social media of them claiming to have been next to someone who caught the rodent while in attendance at the ground for the game.
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A Sunderland fan claims to have caught a live mouse while visiting Old Trafford on SaturdayCredit: X/ RejectedBook
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Old Trafford has a common problem with mice due to its locationCredit: Getty
The social media post showed a photo of a mouse being held in a tall plastic cup.
It was partnered by a caption which said: “How dirty is Old Trafford??
“Woman behind has just caught a mouse in the away end at Old Trafford…
“I’m running out of things I’ve not seen at the match now.”
Other fans also ripped into the stunning pictures on social media, with another fan saying: “No way. Even mother nature is taking the p***.”
Mice droppings were found in a food kiosk on the concourse, which prompted a reduction in the hygiene levels at the stadium to drop from four to just TWO stars.
Unfortunately, the source of the rodent problem is believed to come from the location of the stadium itself being between a railway line and a canal.
Following the arrival of minority owners Ineos, United have announced plans to build a new 100,000-seater £2billion stadium which they have dubbed the “Wembley of the North”.
However, last month those plans hit a snag with company owing the land United wanted to build a huge canopy on refusing to budge for less than £400million – way above United’s own estimate of £50m for the lands worth.
Ruben Amorim‘s squad travel to Anfield to face Liverpool after the international break hoping to generate some momentum and pick up consecutive wins for the first time under the Portuguese boss.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim says his side were a ‘competitive’ and ‘adult’ team in their 2-0 win against Sunderland at Old Trafford- Amorim’s 50th game in charge.
Manchester United are currently in the bottom half of the Premier League, where they also finished last season.
Published On 3 Oct 20253 Oct 2025
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Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim defended his tactical approach, insisting his much-criticised 3-4-2-1 system is not to blame for the team’s struggles as he prepares for his 50th game in charge against promoted Sunderland.
The Portuguese faces mounting pressure after United slumped to 14th in the Premier League with two wins from six games after last weekend’s 3-1 loss at Brentford prompted club great Wayne Rooney to say he had no faith in Amorim turning things around.
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With United already out of the League Cup and having failed to qualify for Europe following last season’s 15th-place finish, the pressure is on Amorim to deliver in the league where they are already eight points adrift of leaders Liverpool.
“You cannot run away from the results and then your baggage from last season. But last season for me doesn’t matter. We’ve had six games this season and we’ve lost three. We have to look to the games that we lost,” Amorim told reporters on Friday.
“I am not saying this team would play better in another system or not, that is not my point. My point is that if I look back at the games we lost, the most important thing when I watch the game is not that we lost because of the system.
“That is my opinion. People have different opinions, that s OK.”
While United’s squad are still coming to terms with Amorim’s philosophy, the manager admitted his side’s performance at Brentford was ‘disjointed’ but argued that inconsistency rather than tactics was the root problem.
“You cannot say one thing that doesn’t work when it works on one weekend and on the other weekend it doesn’t work. When something doesn’t work, it doesn’t work every day,” he added.
“When it works one day and the other day it doesn’t, then the next day it works really well again, it is something about the way we do the same thing. So we need to do the same thing in the same way every day, and we are not doing that.”
Asked if he had a message for the fans to give them hope of a victory at Old Trafford on Saturday, Amorim said: “It is not time to say, it is time to show.”
Amorim was generous in his praise for Sunderland’s French boss Regis Le Bris, who has guided his side to fifth place in the standings after six games, four points behind Liverpool.
“It is a team that plays really well. It is a clear system with a lot of rotations on the side of the pitch. They know we are going to be under pressure and we need to be able to play with that,” Amorim said.
“It is not just the table and all the results that matters most, but the way they play. They have a clear identity. It is a very good manager and a very good team.”
United will also hold a minute’s silence and wear black armbands following Thursday’s attack at a synagogue in Manchester in which two men were killed.
RASMUS HOJLUND pointed to the Champions League badge on his Napoli shirt before winning man of the match in Europe’s elite competition.
While the current Manchester United squad watched from their Cheshire sofas, Hojlund and two other Man Utd cast-offs collected individual awards on Wednesday night.
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Rasmus Hojlund was named player of the match as Napoli earned a 2-1 win over SportingCredit: Getty
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Rasmus Hojlund points to Champions League badge on his Napoli shirt after opening the scoringCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
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Hojlund was assisted by former Man City foe Kevin De BruyneCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
United failed to qualify for Europe after losing last season’s Europa League final to Tottenham – but several of their former players proved the doubters wrong this week.
The Red Devils have endured another dismal start, with the club 14th in the Prem after six matches, following three defeats, two wins and a draw.
Hojlund, who was dropped from Ruben Amorim‘s squad after the arrival of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig at the start of the season, continued his impressive start to loan life in Naples.
The Denmarkstriker‘s two goals secured a 2-1 win over Amorim’s former side Sporting Lisbon at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
Hojlund, who joined United for £72m, opened the scoring in the 36th minute after racing onto a through ball from Kevin De Bruyne before calmly slotting home.
After Sporting equalised in the second half from the penalty spot, De Bruyne’s cross again assisted Hojlund’s header to restore Napoli‘s lead.
Ex-City rival De Bruyne praised Hojlund by offering a comparison to his former team-mate Erling Haaland, who is arguably considered the best striker in the world.
De Bruyne, 34, said: “We deserved the win today. I was trying to get into that space for the first goal and was waiting for the right moment to pass it to Rasmus.
“Luckily he did the rest. I think Rasmus is growing a lot and is very similar to Haaland. I think they are very similar because they both like to attack the depth.
“Maybe Hojlund comes to play the ball towards us more, but he needs to attack the space a lot because he can score and give us a big hand.”
‘A bad moment in life’ – Alejandro Garnacho breaks silence on Man Utd exile under Ruben Amorim
Hojlund has now scored three in his first five matches for Antonio Conte’s side since signing an initial loan, which carries an obligation to buy for £38million.
The 22-year-old, who would often become emotional after scoring for United, said: “It was the night you dream of, playing in the Champions League.
“I celebrated touching the Napoli badge because I’m happy to play here and the Champions League badge because I love to score in Europe.”
Hojlund wasn’t the only United reject to shine on Wednesday night.
Elanga has continued his rise since leaving Old Trafford for Nottingham Forest for £15m in 2023, with the winger earning a £55m move to Newcastle.
The Carrington graduate played a key role in the Toon’s first two goals in their 4-0 thrashing of Union Saint-Gilloise.
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Anthony Elanga took home the player award for NewcastleCredit: Instagram / @elanga
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Former United loanee Marcel Sabitzer won man of the match for Borussia DortmundCredit: Getty
His cross to Sandro Tonali led to Newcastle‘s first goal with the Italian’s shot flicked in by former United target Nick Woltemade, before he earned a penalty after being brought down by Fedde Leysen.
Marcus Rashford also continued his superb form for loan club Barcelona to take his goal contributions to six in six games.
The England star’s quick thinking low cross assisted Ferran Torres’s opener against holders Paris Saint-Germain in the 19th minute.
Despite PSG fighting back to win 2-1, with Senny Mayulu and Goncalo Ramos scoring for the French side, Rashford was a constant threat before coming off for Robert Lewandowski with 20 minutes to go.
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Marcus Rashford also continued his superb form for loan club BarcelonaCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Sabitzer, who had a short injury-ravaged loan spell at United in 2023, picked up the gong as Borussia Dortmund earned a 4-1 win over Athletic Bilbao.
Alejandro Garnacho, who started on Tuesday night, had played a big hand in Chelsea’s only goal of the game in their 1-0 win over Benfica at Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, SunSport exclusively revealed that United could consider organising midweek friendlies for their players to get more match-playing time.
The pressure is growing on Amorim ahead of their clash against an in-form Sunderland outfit at Old Trafford on Saturday.
But United are unbeaten in their previous 23 Prem meetings with newly- promoted teams – if that run were to end this weekend, it might prove fatal for Amorim.
MANCHESTER UNITED are weighing up a cash-spinning mid-season friendly in Saudi Arabia.
A trip to the Middle East could reunite the Red Devils with Cristiano Ronaldo, who left Old Trafford on bitter terms to join Al-Nassr in 2022.
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Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr from Man Utd three years agoCredit: Reuters
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe is looking at ways United can raise extra cashCredit: Alamy
United are holding early-stage talks with stakeholders while looking into possible dates and opponents.
But a face-off with CR7 would be the most lucrative prospect at a time when they’re crying out for funds.
United could stage midweek friendlies this season after failing to qualify for any European competition.
Losing May’s Europa League final to Tottenham meant a £100million reward fell by the wayside.
And with roughly £750m worth of debt weighing on Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s shoulders, United are being forced to get creative.
Their schedule thinned out even more with defeat to Grimsby Town in round two of the Carabao Cup.
SunSport exclusively revealed last month that AC Milan, RB Leipzig, Lazio and Sevilla – four big clubs who missed out on Europe – have also been scouted out as potential friendly opponents.
United’s new plan comes after they scrapped the idea of a fly-on-the-wall documentary, which could have earned them millions.
OLIVER GLASNER, Fabian Hurzeler and Andoni Iraola are among the coaches under consideration to replace Ruben Amorim if he is sacked by Manchester United.
Amorim suffered his 17th Premier League defeat out of 33 games in charge of United against Brentford on Saturday, who have lost three of their six league matches this term.
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Manchester United have struggled under manager Ruben AmorimCredit: Javier Garcia/Shutterstock
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Although Amorim retains United chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s backing, potential replacements are being consideredCredit: Lucy North/PA Wire
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Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is being eyed by Man UtdCredit: BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images
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Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler is also being targeted by Man UtdCredit: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Although Amorim retains the club’s backing, United are keeping an eye on potential replacements amid their alarming form.
Club sources insist they do not have a successor to Amorim lined up but accept the speculation around the manager’s role.
Erik ten Hag was dismissed after four defeats from the first nine league fixtures last term, though the United hierarchy is more invested in Amorim, the first managerial appointment under co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
United initially placed an emphasis on Premier League-proven signings in the summer with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo and could apply that to their next managerial search.
That has had an impact on former England manager Gareth Southgate’s chances – he has not managed in the Premier League since Middlesbrough were relegated in 2009.
Southgate has suggested he may not return to management while his friend and ally, United director Sir Dave Brailsford, is no longer visible at the club after his disastrous attempt to improve performance at Old Trafford.
Glasner guided Crystal Palace to their first piece of silverware in the FA Cup last season and the Eagles are the only unbeaten side in the top flight, having ended Liverpool’s winning run with a 2-1 triumph on Saturday.
Iraola took charge of Bournemouth two years ago and led them to ninth last season.
However, there is not believed to have been any interest from the Red Devils as yet.
Amorim insists he’s right man
Amorim signed a two-and-a-half year contract with United when he was appointed as Ten Hag’s replacement last November but the club finished 15th last season, their worst top-flight finish since the team was relegated in 1974.
United have invested £256.82million in six signings on Amorim’s watch but the team have plunged to 14th following Saturday’s loss.
Sunderland travel to Old Trafford next week before the October internationals and United resume their schedule against Liverpool at Anfield on October 19.
United are winless in their last ten at Anfield and have not won there since January 2016.
Asked if he can turn it around at United, Amorim replied: “I’m always confident as I know what to do.
“When you lose, you go back to the same place and you fight again for one win that can help you to create the momentum.”
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Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola completes Man Utd’s shortlistCredit: Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
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Gareth Southgate’s star is waning in United’s eyes and there are concerns over his compatibility with the club’s summer transfer approachCredit: Stu Forster/Getty Images
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Xavi is said to be interested but there are no indications that that interest has been reciprocatedCredit: AP
MANCHESTER UNITED appear to be ditching the controversial canopy from their new Old Trafford stadium plans — after huge land-buying problems left the club stuck.
Manchester United’s original plans for a new stadium included an ‘umbrella’ roofCredit: Foster + Partners
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United unveiled ambitious plans for a new £2billion arena earlier this yearCredit: PA
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The ambitious plans featured a huge plaza that will be covered by a giant canopy but that has been removed now
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United promised the new stadium will be the heart of the masterplanCredit: Foster + Partners
The canopy, designed by Sir Norman Foster and championed by club co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, was supposed to cover fans from the weather and create a stadium like no other.
But talks to buy the land needed to build the massive canopy have hit a brick wall.
The freight company Freightliner owns much of the land United wanted west of Old Trafford — space needed for the new stadium and thousands of homes.
Freightliner are demanding a whopping £400million, way above United’s £50million estimate, according to the report.
The company could move its freight terminal — but only if it gets a big payday.
Because of this, United are scrambling to rethink the whole project.
New drawings are being drawn up without the “vast umbrella,” which Foster once called a stunning feature.
But others loved how the three giant prongs holding the canopy looked like the devil’s trident on the club badge.
He said: “When anybody in the world sees that stadium, they’ll know it’s Manchester United.”
Man Utd blow as Ruben Amorim confirms Amad Diallo will miss Brentford clash due to personal reasons
But with the canopy off the table, the new designs will look more traditional — less flashy, but more practical.
United want to keep the project moving fast and avoid costly delays from the land fight.
The club has asked the government for help with funding for infrastructure around the new stadium.
But six months on, no cash has been confirmed.
Local mayor Andy Burnham said talks with Freightliner were “far from being concluded,” but the city can use compulsory purchase powers if needed.
Freightliner’s UK rail and road operations are about to be bought by French shipping giant CMA CGM — and what that means for United’s land talks is unclear.
United have yet to hire a final stadium architect, with a tender underway.
Foster + Partners, who designed the original canopy, are busy with the new San Siro stadium in Milan but remain favourites.
The stadium was originally budgeted to cost around £2billion — but United’s finances remain tight.
United told fans the stadium designs so far are just “concepts” — with more detailed plans and fan input still to come.
They promised the new stadium will be the “heart of the masterplan” to regenerate the area around Old Trafford.
The saga continues — but for now, the giant canopy that captured imaginations looks set to be just a memory.
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United want the 100,000 capacity ground to become “The Wembley of the North”Credit: Foster + Partners
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Lord Norman Foster believes Manchester United’s stadium build is “the project of a lifetime”
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