Ruben Amorim insists Manchester United will do everything they can to keep hold of their 'best players' after academy players Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho were linked with exits.
Earlier this week, reports suggested United may have to sell players to comply with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules.
Mainoo and Garnacho were two players touted for a possible sale, with United able to book the transfer fee received for their youth graduates as pure profit.
Mainoo is under contract until 2027 and in September former boss Erik ten Hag announced that talks would begin about a possible extension. Garnacho is now under contract until 2028.
Chelsea were immediately linked with a big-money move for Mainoo, while reports suggest Garnacho could be open to a return to Atletico Madrid – who he left as a 16-year-old to join United's youth academy.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Sunday's FA Cup match against Arsenal, Amorim said: “We need to improve recruitment so that when we target players we are confident they can meet the demands.
“We also need to improve our academy. Young kids who understand the club in the right way and do business in order to have money to invest in the team.
“Our idea is always to keep the best players and build for this club, but I am very happy and like our players, especially the youth academy boys.
“I really love my players. I want to keep them, especially the talented players. It is a difficult moment and I am very happy with Kobbie. He is improving.”
Garnacho played in eleven of United's twelve games under Amorim in all competitions, although he made just four starts and totaled 437 minutes.
Mainoo, meanwhile, has played eight games – starting five – and played 562 minutes, forming a midfield partnership with Manuel Ugarte.
Standing for business #MUFC || #PL pic.twitter.com/TbNIpqmxgR
– Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 7, 2025
Another player linked with a move away is Marcus Rashford, who is reportedly interested by AC Milan after saying he was ready for a “new challenge” away from Old Trafford.
On Rashford's future, Amorim said: “We'll see. Let's concentrate on the match. They are training and we will see the squad before the match.”
United have won just four of 12 games under Amorim, drawing two and losing six, although they showed signs of progress in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield.
“Right now I'm living day to day,” Amorim said. “What I think is that we have a week without a game, had a day off and were able to work with the team a little bit.
“We have to play against the best team and win and follow the latest performance. I don't think that way because we are in a difficult moment. My focus is more on our week.”
“In the cu,p you never know. Sometimes it is better to win these kinds of matches, and then you have less time to rest. We just want to win this match, and then we will think about the next one.”
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