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Sources: Man United accelerate plan to sign Sofyan Amrabat replacement
Man United are set to explore a move for a defensive midfielder in January – casting further doubt on the future of on-loan ace Sofyan Amrabat, sources have told Football Insider.
Football Insider revealed on Friday (1 December) that the Red Devils are yet to make a final decision on signing the midfielder, who is on loan from Serie A side Fiorentina, permanently.
It is believed that Man United do not feel the 27-year-old has shown his best at the Old Trafford club since he arrived in the summer window.
This has motivated them to seek further recruitment in their bid to improve their squad for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign.
Internal talks have been held over potential targets, with the recruitment team tasked with identifying players who can fit into the team’s playing style.
United would be unlikely to make Amrabat’s move permanent unless he improves his performances and breaks into Erik ten Hag’s first-choice starting line-up.
Man United have only won four games from eight in which the Morocco international has started.
The club have few options in defensive midfield following Casemiro’s hamstring injury, which he sustained in their League Cup defeat against Newcastle United last month.
However, Kobbie Mainoo, 18, has recently returned from injury and could now further restrict Amrabat’s role.
The Old Trafford club have already paid a reported loan fee of £8.5million to take the midfielder for the 2023-24 campaign, and can choose to sign him permanently for an additional £21.4million.
Amrabat, who impressed for Morocco at the World Cup in Qatar, is under contract at Fiorentina until June 2025.
Ten Hag’s side are set for elimination from the Champions League after their 3-3 draw against Galatasaray earlier this week (29 November) – a game Amrabat started – left them at the bottom of Group A.
In other news, Man United plan to agree contract with star – and then let him go.