Ruben Amorim reiterated that the remaining four players in the ‘Bomb Squad’ could still have a future at Manchester United but admitted having the quartet currently at the club is “not good”.
Marcus Rashford has joined Barcelona on loan but Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Tyrell Malacia and Antony remain at Old Trafford and continue to train away from the first-team group.
United have 10 days remaining in the transfer window to get unwanted players off the wage bill and Amorim conceded the current state is not healthy.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s trip to Fulham, the Portuguese said: “I know it’s not a good thing to have players in this situation, but it’s clear that they want to play in a different club.
“We try to arrange everything for both parts to be happy. I have to imagine having training with the guys who I think are going to be the future and then the other guys are training for the next chapter.”
Still hope for Sancho and Co at Manchester United
Should Sancho, Garnacho, Malacia or Antony still be at the club come September 2 then Amorim will review the situation.
“When the window is closed, we have to receive the players and then new life, anything can happen,” he added.
United have signed Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Diego Leon this summer but Amorim said further arrivals do not necessarily depend on any of the ‘Bomb Squad’ leaving.
“You will have to talk with [director of football] Jason [Wilcox]. We have a department that is responsible for that part,” he said.
“I’m just focused on the performance on Sunday and to try and win the game.
“We talk every day. It’s not a formal meeting, but we are talking about all the situations. We are trying to see every situation.
“It’s not an idea that ‘these players are going to leave and then we’ll receive another player’. We don’t know what is going to happen but we are not waiting to take out someone to bring another player [in].
“One thing is not responsible for the other.
“The players you’re talking about are not players who are training with the group in this moment.
“We have a group training so it’s not going to affect a lot.”
Amorim impressed by Hojlund attitude
Sesko’s arrival has increased speculation Rasmus Hojlund will be sold this summer with AC Milan and Napoli reportedly interested.
The Dane has struggled to make an impression in the Premier League but is still highly regarded in Italy following a successful spell at Atalanta.
Amorim said of Hojlund: “[He has handled the transfer speculation] like a professional player.
“Let’s see until the market is closed and then everything is going to be more clear.”
United played well against Arsenal last weekend but lost 1-0 and Amorim will take a near full-strength squad to Craven Cottage with only Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui absent.
He refused to confirm, however, if Andre Onana will return in goal after Altay Bayindir was preferred against the Gunners.
He said: ”Onana is ready to play like last week, so we will see in the game who is going to be keeper.”
