Man United weigh offers for Mainoo, Zirkzee, Ugarte and Malacia as Amorim lines up post-AFCON move

Manchester United are prepared to listen to offers involving Kobbie Mainoo, Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte and Tyrell Malacia, with the clear caveat that no exits will be sanctioned before mid-January due to AFCON commitments and the need to protect squad depth under Ruben Amorim. If funds are freed after that point, United plan to move quickly for a priority target tailored to Amorim’s system. Zirkzee’s sharp link play, Mainoo’s balance in midfield, and Malacia’s recovery path remain central to short-term planning. Industry chatter continues to place Ugarte on United’s radar as the exact type of ball-winner Amorim trusts.

Discussions within Manchester football circles point to a winter window strategy shaped by AFCON absences, ongoing injury management at fullback, and the club’s financial guardrails. Recent public sightings of Joshua Zirkzee and lighthearted moments between Bruno Fernandes and Ruben Amorim add texture to a squad that remains tightly knit, while internal planning focuses on maintaining depth through mid-January before accelerating any outgoings and one priority incoming.

🚨 NEW: Manchester United will listen to offers for Mainoo, Zirkzee, Ugarte and Malacia, but allowing any to leave before the end of AFCON on Jan. 18 would leave Amorim desperately short of players. However, if the United hierarchy can unlock some funds, it could make a move for

@UtdXclusive

Impact Analysis

From a sporting perspective, the stance is pragmatic. Allowing exits before mid-January would expose United in two key areas: the last line of buildup and the defensive midfield screen. Mainoo has become the metronome who lowers the heartbeat of difficult matches; he receives under pressure and breaks the first line with disguise and balance. You don’t casually move that profile in a winter window. Zirkzee’s hold-up play and subtle wall passes give Amorim an outlet that knits together wide overloads and interior runs. Even on quieter days, he occupies center-backs and buys time for Bruno and the wingers to arrive in optimal zones.

Malacia’s situation is more nuanced. If his fitness base builds cleanly, a late-window decision could emerge, but fullback depth remains precious in a congested schedule. As for Ugarte, he is the archetype Amorim favors as a disruptor who patrols passing lanes and wins the ball on the half-turn; that is why his name persists in conversations around Old Trafford’s recruitment room. Financially, any business will be tethered to the need to free up wages and meet league cost rules. The logic is simple: protect the core until AFCON subsides, then act decisively to raise the floor of the XI without destabilizing the spine.

Reaction

Supporters are split between urgency and caution. One camp wants action now, pointing to summer decisiveness and urging the club to be proactive again. Another group values the calculated approach, noting AFCON strain and the risk of leaving Amorim short. There’s warmth around the squad’s togetherness too, with clips of a young fan telling Bruno and Amorim about a hat trick doing the rounds, reinforcing the sense of unity.

On the player front, Zirkzee’s friendly post with Chris Richards drew light chatter but little anxiety, a reminder that players maintain cross-club relationships. A running theme in replies highlights the need to keep Mainoo at all costs. Fans invoke the wisdom of legends like Paul Scholes when talking about standards in midfield, and his 11-title aura becomes shorthand for what United must aspire to again. One thread joking about results “before and after Lammens” reflects how quickly narratives swing when clean sheets start to arrive. The tone, overall, is optimistic with a nudge to the board: hold nerve now, then strike in the back half of the window.

Social reactions

Pretty sure Malacia can leave at any time 😂

Jim (@Jimsbiggermouth)

Stiller won't leave in January, he wouldn't even leave last summer because he's so dedicated to Stuttgart.

Ben Relouw 🔰 (@BenRelouw)

Ugarte & stiller swap ?

Nikhil Agarwal (@NikhilAgarwal7_)

Prediction

Expect United to hold firm on key pieces through mid-January. Mainoo is overwhelmingly likely to stay; his role is too central to Amorim’s press-to-possess rhythm. Zirkzee will remain the reference point up front, with the staff doubling down on patterns that bring him into the half-spaces to combine with Bruno. Malacia’s path probably leads to minutes management first; only if another fullback arrives late would a loan be entertained, and even then it would be carefully structured.

On the incoming side, the shortlist skews toward a high-volume ball-winner or a right-sided attacker with first-step burst. If a midfielder arrives, think profiles who can win duels, pass forward under stress, and reset the press traps — precisely why Ugarte’s name persists in discussions around United even while he remains contracted elsewhere. Should finances be freed after AFCON, anticipate a quick, targeted bid rather than a scatter of inquiries. A late-window deal that immediately lifts the starting XI feels the likeliest outcome.

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Conclusion

This window will be defined by discipline first, ambition second. The smartest play is to protect Amorim’s structure through AFCON, then translate weeks of scouting into one decisive addition. United do not need churn; they need clarity. Keep Mainoo, refine Zirkzee’s service, manage Malacia’s fitness, and pursue the one profile that raises the daily training standard as much as matchday output.

I’ve covered enough winter windows in Manchester to know that the best business often happens late, after the noise clears. The legends who set the bar — Scholes in midfield control, for example — did so by making the right choices repeatedly, not by gambling on upheaval. Expect the club to echo that lesson. Hold what matters. Cut what can be spared. Then make the signing that fits Amorim’s football like a glove.