The big-money summer signing who already needs to go, the great survivor at the back and the Premier League hotshot he should make a move for…  CHRIS SUTTON reveals how radical Ruben Amorim can ditch the deadwood and overhaul Man United

This already feels like virtually an impossible job for Ruben Amorim and one where we can only truly judge him after a couple of transfer windows.

I’ve not been surprised by anything when it comes to Manchester United this season. I’ve been predicting them to lose most weeks now and I think they’ve got no choice but to stick with Amorim for the long haul even with this season looking like it’s going to be really ugly for them.

I have massive sympathy for him because he was forced to make a decision to leave Sporting mid-season. Coming to Old Trafford halfway through a campaign is tough – this isn’t Amorim’s group of players and he’s asking them to play in a very different way to what they are used to.

Erik ten Hag’s 4-2-3-1 – which favoured the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford as wingers – is out and it’s a back three he’s going to persist with amid all the teething problems we are seeing now.

Remember, these are players that failed under Ten Hag.

I don’t think Manchester United have any other choice after putting Amorim in a headlock to get him over here. They trusted him and were happy for him to play in this particular way and they’ve got no choice but to stick with it. If you could get rid of most of this squad and replace them you would do but that isn’t realistic, that won’t be the case.

With that in mind, here is what I think Amorim should do with his squad to turn things around…

GOALKEEPERS

ANDRE ONANA

He made an error at the weekend but by and large he’s proven to be pretty reliable. Onana had a shaky start to his United career but he has certainly improved since then – plus he’s decent with his feet and Amorim wants that. Every goalkeeper makes mistakes and he is one worth sticking with.

VERDICT: KEEP

ALTAY BAYINDIR

This feels a virtually impossible one to call given how little he has played. It’s difficult for goalkeepers when you don’t play and get thrown in as he was at Tottenham. But if you can get an upgrade at No 2 and find someone willing to sit on the bench, do it.

VERDICT: SELL

DEFENDERS

VICTOR LINDELOF

Of all the centre backs he is the easiest one to make a judgment on. He is out of contract at the end of the season and can’t get much of a look-in right now as United stumble in the bottom half of the table. He’s reached the end of the road at United it seems.

VERDICT: SELL

HARRY MAGUIRE

I’m keeping Harry Maguire because I think he’s a good character and United need more of those in the dressing room. United feels like a club where underlying issues still plague them and who can you trust? Amorim can trust Harry Maguire and he shouldn’t be in a hurry to get rid. He always stands up to be counted.

VERDICT: KEEP

LISANDRO MARTINEZ

He’s had his moments of uncertainty in recent times and I wasn’t sure about him when he came in but he’s proven me wrong. If you’re Amorim you want players who are totally committed and he’s always seemed to be that type of guy to me. Amorim needs to lean on players who will stand up, won’t shirk a challenge, and he’s firmly in that category.

VERDICT: KEEP

MATTHIJS DE LIGT

The one big thing he lacks is that he is not mobile or quick – and he’s had his moments, like a lot of Manchester United players during this malaise. He’s under contract until June 2029 with the option of a further year which works in his favour. But in the long-term, there is an upgrade to be made there.

VERDICT: SELL

JONNY EVANS

I love Jonny Evans but you’ve got to ask yourself how much longer he can go on for? Like Lindelof, it’s time he moves on.

VERDICT: SELL

LENY YORO

He’s difficult to judge just because he hasn’t had that run of games where you can properly judge him. But everything we have heard about him – and the lengths to which Ineos went to sign him in the summer – means that he is a decent prospect for Amorim to build around in the future.

VERDICT: KEEP

LUKE SHAW

The big issue with him is his injury record and whether you can trust him. I love him as a player, love his versatility at centre back and left back and he has a nice balance to his game. If he’s fit and firing there aren’t many better left backs in the entire league, but that’s a big ‘if’. He’s too talented to get rid of for me, though.

VERDICT: KEEP

NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI

Definitely keep. He’s been pretty good for Amorim and shown his versatility (including playing as a No 10 under Ten Hag!). He’s steady, has held his own and if United are to get back on top they’ll need dependable players.

VERDICT: KEEP

DIOGO DALOT

Versatility is key for him and he can play on both sides. I don’t actually think he’s had a disastrous season and he is one that I’d keep if I was Amorim.

VERDICT: KEEP

TYRELL MALACIA

Nope. Sell. I’ve never been totally convinced by him. When he came back I didn’t even realise he was still at the club! I’ve always felt he’s had issues defensively and if you can get Shaw fit and have got Martinez and Dalot who can push out there, Malacia is one I’d be sending on to pastures new.

VERDICT: SELL

MIDFIELDERS

MANUEL UGARTE

When Manchester United spent £50million on him I expected him to be more dynamic than he has been. He’s walked into a struggling team and while I don’t think he is brilliant I think United have no choice but to keep him and make it work. But he needs to vastly improve on what he’s delivered so far.

VERDICT: KEEP

KOBBIE MAINOO

I’ve been surprised by how difficult it’s been for him so far under Amorim. You’d think he’s young enough and bright enough to adapt to the manager’s demands of him. I find it baffling that schooled, international players are struggling with what they are being asked to do. That said, he’s an excellent young talent and it’s worth being patient with players like that.

VERDICT: KEEP

CASEMIRO

He’s not got a future at the club. When they signed him I thought it was an enormous gamble and he actually proved me wrong in that first season – he was excellent. But since then he can’t cover the ground in that position any more and Amorim has to have legs in midfield and Casemiro can’t give him that.

VERDICT: SELL

CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN

I love Eriksen as a player but if you want to compete against the best teams, he needs to go. Look at Arsenal, look at Liverpool and how dynamic that midfield is. Even look at Chelsea and how young and aggressive they are. You can’t go toe to toe with them while carrying ageing greats like Eriksen.

VERDICT: SELL

MASON MOUNT

With him you’re praying that it clicks. There was a lot of excitement about him – particularly from Amorim – playing regularly in the No 10 spot, but injuries keep setting him back. He is ALWAYS injured! His career has gone backwards since going to Manchester United but there is a player in there – and Amorim knows it.

VERDICT: KEEP

BRUNO FERNANDES

I questioned a while ago whether he was right to be Manchester United captain but he went and proved me wrong last season. He’s a player that sticks at it and yes, he’s lost his head on occasions with the three reds this season. But I’m in no doubt that Amorim needs to keep him because he’s such a talented player. When it clicks with him he’s one of the very best about.

VERDICT: KEEP

FORWARDS

AMAD DIALLO

100 per cent keep. I had to check if he was the same one that went to Rangers as it never materialised for him up there. But he’s been showing others up since Amorim arrived in terms of attitude and output. He’s an easy one to keep.

VERDICT: KEEP

ALEJANDRO GARNACHO

He has clearly annoyed Amorim and there arefresh questions about his attitude. He seems to be misguided with some of the things he does off the pitch, with the Instagram likes and what not. We will learn a lot about him with how he responds after being dropped and I quite like that Amorim did it. There’s enough talent there that you know he can be a game changer… it’s just whether Amorim sees him as a disruptor or not.

VERDICT: KEEP

ANTONY

He’s a show pony and that’s all he is. A circus comes with him and I had it myself as a player that sometimes you have to hold your hands up that a club isn’t the right fit for you. Manchester United isn’t the right fit for him and they need more than what he can offer. Time to go.

VERDICT: SELL

MARCUS RASHFORD

He’s a goner. I’m so disappointed in him. Talent wise of course you’d want to keep him but he wants out and that is that. I am amazed that people have stuck up for Rashford in many ways. Amorim will have given everybody a clean slate so there is no agenda towards anyone but there has to be standards at the club and Rashford seems to be one of those players trying to hold him back. We all know what a brilliant footballer Marcus Rashford can be but we all know now he doesn’t have the stomach for the fight. Out he goes.

VERDICT: SELL

JOSHUA ZIRKZEE

If you looked at his career before Manchester United it wasn’t prolific and so he falls into the camp of being a development player. Manchester United don’t need development players at this particular time. He is one of the players that is on trial under Amorim and if Manchester United want to get back to where they want to be they need much better quality than Zirkzee. If you think about the best centre halves in the league, a Gabriel or William Saliba, they aren’t quaking in their boots thinking about facing Zirkzee, let’s put it like that.

VERDICT: SELL

RASMUS HOJLUND

Amorim has got no choice but to keep him and to make it work. He’s interesting because there is a lot I like about him but the biggest question is: can he ever be prolific? You catch yourself wondering what other options are out there. It definitely feels like he has become more frustrating and that Amorim is unsure about him which is why he chops and changes. Hojlund is not the finished article but I’m sticking with him.

VERDICT: KEEP

THREE PLAYERS AMORIM SHOULD SIGN

1. Murillo (Nottingham Forest)

He’s an absolute machine. He’s a stockier version of Martin Keown. He’s like a rash, he all over people and roughs them up because he is so powerful, strong and quick… he’s like a bull. Keep in mind, too, that he is only 22 and looks to be getting better and better. 

He’s been really impressive this season for Nottingham Forest and is definitely someone Amorim should look at, particularly with question marks over a number of the centre backs currently available to him.

2. Antonee Robinson (Fulham)

He feels like a great fit. He overlaps more than anyone else in the Premier League it feels like and when he is in crossing positions he is so, so accurate. He’s brilliant at picking players out. 

He’s not one of those who just sort of whips things in blindly, he picks players out. He is one that fits because Amorim does have an issue in terms of balance down the left.

3. Yoanne Wissa (Brentford)

I love Wissa. I absolutely love him. He’s more than just a goalscorer – and his finishing is quite exceptional. But he’s more than that, he’s quite clever, although Manchester United would probably find a way to ruin his career! 

The way he links up is really good and he’s not a one-trick pony. I think in terms of his finishing at this moment in time you’d back him to score more goals than Rasmus Hojlund and he’s different to Joshua Zirkzee.