Ruben Amorim has struggled to make a huge impact as Manchester United’s manager, with expectations needing to be dialled back until next season.
The 40-year-old took the reins from Erik ten Hag back in November, only having one transfer window to make his mark on the squad and having to utilise the players already at Old Trafford before his appointment.
He has added Patrick Dorgu to the squad in recent weeks, but the Dane is still acclimatising to life in the Premier League, as seen against Ipswich Town, which saw him make a mistake for the visitor’s opener before being sent off in the first half.
Dorgu
Undoubtedly, given the lowly league standing, Amorim will want to offload numerous players to allow for incomings to enable him to be a success at Old Trafford.
As a result, he could decide to cash in on a player who’s failed to deliver since his appointment, with issues starting to rear their head over the last couple of weeks.
Alejandro Garnacho’s stats at Man Utd in 2025
Winger Alejandro Garnacho has endured a huge rise over the last couple of years, making the jump into the first team and cementing his place as a regular starter.
However, since the turn of the year, the Argentine has struggled to produce his best form, contributing to the club’s dismal run and lowly league standing.
The 20-year-old has failed to score and registered just two assists in his last 12 matches, with the club potentially making a mistake not cashing in on him after the interest from Chelsea and Napoli in January.
He was replaced just before the break in the draw with Ipswich in midweek after Dorgu’s dismissal, walking down the tunnel at full-time without applauding the supporters – with Amorim left unimpressed by his antics.
As a result, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him out of the side in the coming weeks, with the boss needing to hand a United teenager the chance to shine at the Theatre of Dreams.
The United academy star who could be their own Foden
Phil Foden has been a player who has starred for rivals Manchester City over the last couple of years, showcasing the rewards for putting faith in the academy setup.
The Englishman has registered over 300 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side, winning multiple awards, including the PFA Player of the Year award for his form last season.
However, United could unleash their own version of the England international in the form of winger Shea Lacey, who’s previously been dubbed a “young Phil Foden” by talent scout Antonio Mango.
The comparison is understandable given his playstyle, with the teenager a left-footed player who favours cutting off the right side onto his stronger foot – similar to how Foden operates at the Etihad.
At youth level, Lacey has already impressed despite his tender age of just 17, scoring five times and registering an assist in the UEFA Youth League, undoubtedly knocking on the door of the first team.
He’s also demonstrated his ball-carrying skills in the past, making the step up to action after his previous injury lay-off – possessing the fearlessness that United have often lacked in the final third in 2024/25.
Competition
Games
Goals
Assists
U18 Premier League
25
5
5
UEFA Youth League
4
0
2
FA Youth Cup
2
0
0
Total:
31
5
7
The Red Devils’ frontline has struggled to produce the goods, as seen by their league goals tally, scoring just 33 times in 27 games, with just five sides in the division scoring fewer this campaign.
Given Amad Diallo’s injury setback, coupled with Garnacho’s run of form, Amorim could be tempted into putting faith into youth, potentially handing Lacey the opportunity to stake his claim for a senior place.
The summer presents an opportunity for the 40-year-old to strengthen, but he may not need to spend as heavily should any of the youngsters impress in the near future.
The next couple of months could be used as a trial period ahead of next season, with the teenager needing the platform to showcase that he can follow in Foden’s footsteps and be a success with a Manchester outfit in England’s top-flight.
Amorim must offload Man Utd flop who's been a worse signing than Onana
Manchester United desperately need a clear out this summer, with one player needing to be offloaded.
ByEthan LambFeb 28, 2025
