Manchester United take on Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday, but some are focusing just as heavily on the club’s January transfer business.
Ruben Amorim’s team will end the weekend in the bottom half regardless of the result at Old Trafford. Nevertheless, a win would be hugely valuable as the head coach attempts to restore some pride in the second half of the season.
After reports that the entire United squad was up for sale for the right price, there will be plenty of attention paid to potential ins and outs between now and the end of the month. There’s a feeling Amorim’s side will need to sell before they can buy, with Marcus Rashford among the high-profile stars linked with an exit.
Rashford might not be the only casualty of a mid-season reshuffle, though. Here, Mirror Football provides the latest lines from around Old Trafford.
Nuno Mendes is set to snub a move to Manchester United, according to L’Equipe. The Paris Saint-Germain left-back previously worked with Ruben Amorim at Sporting Lisbon, but appears prepared to stay in Paris.
The Portuguese international had been seen as a natural fit for the left wing-back slot in Amorim’s 3-4-3 set-up. He is out of contract in 2026, and there had been suggestions United might test the water with a January bid.
Mendes started for PSG on Saturday as they won 2-1 at Lens. They trailed at the break, but second-half goals from Fabian Ruiz and Bradley Barcola completed a turnaround.
With question-marks over Mendes, Rayan Ait-Nouri could be another option down the left. The Independent mentions the Algerian as an alternative to Mendes, whose wages and transfer fee could provide an obstacle.
Ait-Nouri isn’t the only Wolves player on United’s radar. The same publication notes that Matheus Cunha is also of interest, though the forward has also been linked with Arsenal.
France-born left-back Ait-Nouri is enjoying the best scoring season of his career. His club have been struggling, though, despite a December victory over United.
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Napoli appear to have moved beyond Alejandro Garnacho as a replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, with Rayan Cherki now emerging as an option. The Italian side are believed to have been priced out of a move for Garnacho, despite United seemingly being prepared to sell for the right price.
According to reports in France (via GFFN), Cherki has been offered to Napoli. The 21-year-old has starred for Lyon, but the French club are expected to need to sell in January.
Kvaratskhelia, meanwhile, has now officially completed his big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain. The Georgian internatinal has signed a deal with the Parisiens which runs until he summer of 2029.
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