Seven Man Utd stars who should be fearing for their future in January

RUBEN AMORIM will be looking to make his mark on his new Manchester United squad as quickly as possible.

The former Sporting boss replaces Erik ten Hag as he prepares to take charge of his first game at Ipswich on Sunday.

He will have to make do with the current crop of players for the first few weeks of his tenure until the January transfer window opens.

But even then, it's clear he may not have an abundance of cash to land his top targets right away.

And as a result, Amorim could look to raise some cash by selling some United players who fail to impress or don't fit into his preferred 3-4-3 system.

But who is most at risk of taking the hit and could be on the way out of Old Trafford in early 2025?

JOSHUA ZIRKZEE

Joshua Zirkzee may only have joined United this summer, but he may already be the third-choice striker under Amorim.

The new manager's preferred style favors the likes of Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund and there are concerns that Zirkzee will not fit into the picture.

It has been a difficult start to life at Old Trafford for the Dutch striker, who scored just one goal in his first 17 appearances and was reportedly not even wanted by former boss Erik ten Hag before his £36.5million arrival.

United and Zirkzee could decide this hasn't worked out and allow the 23-year-old to move elsewhere to continue his career before things turn sour.

CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN

The Danish midfielder, 32, is out of contract at the end of the season and was linked with a move away last summer.

Ten Hag kept Christian Eriksen, but the reality is that his playing time will be very limited in the Amorim formation and selling the veteran would mean United could get a fee for him.

CASEMIRO

Casemiro's United career has been turbulent to say the least, but could it be on the verge of failure?

The experienced Brazilian, 32, has struggled to have the impact he would have liked and his impact waned under Ten Hag.

And that could decrease even further if Amorim opts for a midfield duo of Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo.

He is under contract until 2026 but is United's highest-paid player on a staggering £375,000 per week. This means that a transfer to the Middle East would be an ideal solution.

ALEJANDRO GARNACHO

This one might ruffle a few feathers, but 20-year-old Alejandro Garnacho could also be on his way to Old Trafford.

The new 3-4-3 formation will likely see two supporting playmakers behind the main striker – with full-backs instead of wingers.

And that could mean bad news for Argentina.

He is undoubtedly one of the most exciting talents in the Red Devils squad and fans would hate to see him leave.

But a big offer for an inexperienced star who could generate huge profits could be attractive to Amorim and his boardroom bosses.

AMAD DIALLO

Likewise, Amad Diallo, 22, could fall out of favor under Amorim.

The winger's contract also expires next summer and if Amorim does not want to use him, he could try to convince the club to sell him in January – rather than offering a new contract or letting him go for free.

Incredibly, Antony could be given a lifeline at Old Trafford, with early training suggesting he could be given a new lease on life as a full-back.

HARRY MAGUIRE

Amorim wants a 3-4-3 formation with three central defenders.

The reality is that Harry Maguire, 31, can play in the back three and has done so before, including for England in the World Cup.

But the reality is also that he will be behind Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez and Leny Yoro in the pecking order – plus possibly Luke Shaw if he is given a left-back role.

Maguire has been on the verge of leaving on several occasions and removing his £190,000 from the weekly wage bill would help the finances.

VICTOR LINDELOF

You could be forgiven for forgetting that 30-year-old Victor Lindelof was still on the books at Old Trafford, more than seven years after arriving in 2017.

He will certainly not get an extension to his current contract, which expires at the end of the season.

So an attempt to flog him in January would be the last chance to get anything for the Swedish defender.