Man United at risk of losing players, Marc Guehi is sought after
Ruben Amorim is ready for the possibility of a player asking to leave Man United in January. The Red Devils are targeting Andrey Santos; Europe is racing for Marc Guehi; Arsenal and Liverpool are competing for Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Ruben Amorim admitted that he is preparing for a scenario where some players request to leave in the January transfer window due to lack of playing time before the World Cup in the summer (Source: Times). At the same time, Manchester United opened a file for Andrey Santos to strengthen the midfield, while the European market heated up with the hunt for Marc Guehi. Arsenal and Liverpool joined the race for Ayyoub Bouaddi; Everton followed Nicolas Jackson; Ismael Saibari was in the Premier League's sights; Real Madrid joined the race for Kerim Alajbegovic; Antoine Semenyo confirmed his happiness at Bournemouth.
Man United's internal affairs before January: the risk of losing people and the rotation problem
Head coach Ruben Amorim said he was open to the prospect of players directly requesting to leave the team in the January transfer window (Source: Times). The reason comes from the need to play regularly to maintain form and compete for a place in the national team before the World Cup finals in the summer.
Tactical impact
The risk of mid-season personnel changes has forced the coaching staff to prepare alternatives by position and role. The focus is on maintaining balance in the midfield – an area that has been seen as a weak point in recent matches – while ensuring internal competition.
Midfield addition: Man United pursue Andrey Santos
Man United target Chelsea's Andrey Santos (21 years old) to strengthen the midfield. The Brazilian midfielder is considered to have a technical and energetic foundation, suitable for the goal of increasing mobility in the midfield, where the team is looking to overcome the instability in control and transition (Source: Football Insider).
Three-horse race for Ayyoub Bouaddi
Along with short-term goals, Man United are considering a long-term option with Ayyoub Bouaddi (18 years old) of Lille. However, Arsenal and Liverpool have joined the race, making it a three-horse race for one of the most promising young midfielders in French football today (Source: Caught Offside, TBR Football).
Europe competes for Marc Guehi
Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace) is the most sought-after name at the moment. The 25-year-old central defender's contract will expire next summer. Inter Milan want to bring him to Serie A but have to compete with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Liverpool - all teams have Guehi on their shopping list (Source: Gazzetta dello Sport).
Market impact
The demand for a quality centre-back has made Guehi a centre of attention. His ability to compete in several top leagues means he has a wide range of options and will increase the competition between clubs ahead of the winter transfer window.
Everton tracking Nicolas Jackson amid Bayern Munich hesitation
Nicolas Jackson's future is uncertain as Bayern Munich have yet to activate the £70m buyout clause in his loan deal from Chelsea. Everton are closely monitoring the player and are ready to make an offer if the opportunity arises, in order to strengthen their attack (Source: Football Insider).
Many Premier League clubs are eyeing Ismael Saibari
Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven) has attracted interest from the Premier League after impressive performances in the Netherlands. Aston Villa and Leeds United have shown clear interest, with the aim of adding creativity to their midfield when the January window opens (Source: TBR Football).
Real Madrid join the race for Kerim Alajbegovic
Real Madrid have officially pursued Red Bull Salzburg's Kerim Alajbegovic (18 years old). Previously, Man United and Chelsea had been monitoring the development of this winger, promising a highly competitive deal for Europe's top clubs (Source: Defensa Central).
Antoine Semenyo speaks out about the future
Antoine Semenyo insists he is happy at Bournemouth, admitting he is aware of the speculation surrounding his future but is glad he decided to stay last summer (Source: Sky Sports).
Overview
The pre-January market has been marked by a clear stratification: the big clubs are gearing up for both short-term and long-term goals, while the mid-table are looking for immediate solutions to improve their squad. For Man United, resolving the internal turmoil and quickly finalising midfield targets could be key to stabilising the second half of the season.
