The winds of change are long overdue at Old Trafford and the current malaise at the club should only serve to accelerate them.
Ruben Amorim is getting to know how far this batch of players need to go to become anything close to resembling a serious football team.
The Man Utd board is getting to know what a mess they inherited from the previous ownership, the effects of which the club will be saddled with for the next few years.
Most importantly, it finally looks like the players are the ones under the scanner instead of the Man Utd manager which means they will need to fight for their future at Old Trafford.
Unfortunately for one, he has suffered a complete 18-degree turn in fortunes from the managerial change and has now become a necessary asset to sell.
Erik ten Hag’s untouchable to Ruben Amorim’s expendable
The arrival of Amorim’s 3-4-3 was bound to have some casualties as well as some winners and in the early stages of the process, both have emerged.
While somebody like Amad is the first-choice option at arguably two positions, Alejandro Garnacho, Christian Eriksen, Marcus Rashford, or Casemiro don’t seem like they have a role in the team.
Rashford’s case is more self-inflicted and his wage packet means he won’t net United much of a transfer fee either but the same can’t be said for Garnacho.
The Argentine had once started 38 games in a row under Erik ten Hag and was effectively the saviour of a dysfunctional team with his fearless dribbles and audacious shots.
Under Ruben Amorim, he has failed to expand his game beyond his skill set of cutting in from the wings and shooting. As a result, he finds himself on the fringes of the squad.
He has been reduced to cameos off the bench where he hasn’t set the world alight and the days of him being an undisputed starter are far behind him.
That change couldn’t have come at a worse time for his career at Man Utd.
Alejandro Garnacho’s sale can transform Man Utd
It’s come at the worst time because United need to do a rebuild of the squad but their hands are tied due to FFP and PSR.
In such a scenario, United might look at Garnacho, his status as an academy product, his secure contract, potential, and palatable wages, and arrive at the conclusion that he’s a better bet to be sold than developed.
He’s not a natural fit in the team so selling him for £50 million or so will instantly net United a breathing room of £200 million due to amortisation.
That’s not a deal Ineos will think twice before making because getting rid of a player whose importance is dwindling and leveraging that sale to strengthen potentially multiple positions is a no-brainer.
Scott McTominay’s sale in the summer allowed them to land Manuel Ugarte who has flourished under Amorim. Garnacho could be the next one sacrificed.
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