Man Utd transfer news: Ruben Amorim discusses club's relegation battle and gives Marcus Rashford, Amad Diallo and Harry Maguire future updates

Ruben Amorim has doubled down on his Manchester United relegation comments, saying it is still a "possibility" come May in a bid to be "really honest" with the club's players and supporters.

United are on a four-game losing streak in all competitions - and have also suffered defeat in five out of their last six Premier League games to leave them in 14th spot.

Amorim's United are closer to the relegation zone than they are to the seventh place spot that would secure European football next season, let alone the top four, as they prepare to face league leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Super Sunday, live on VidSport Live.

Since the 39-year-old coach took over at Old Trafford, only Leicester and Southampton have picked up fewer points than Amorim's United - and the Portuguese boss stunned many by admitting that the club could face a battle to stay in the Premier League this season.

Speaking exclusively to VidSport Live' David Craig on Friday about his team's relegation battle, Amorim said: "I think it's important to be really clear with the fans and especially with the players.

"If you look at the table, we are closer to the relegation than the first place. I'm not looking at the table at the moment.

"That [relegation] is a possibility, but I'm not thinking about that, I just want to look at the next game. I just think it's really, really important to be really clear with the players and the supporters."

Amorim also provided an update on Marcus Rashford's future - with the England international's Old Trafford future in limbo.

Rashford admitted in an interview last month that he is looking for a new challenge, with Amorim leaving the forward out of four consecutive matchday squads.

He returned to the United squad for the 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on Monday Night Football earlier this week, but was an unused substitute. Amorim has since confirmed Rashford will miss Sunday's trip to Liverpool due to illness.

"I already spoke a lot about Marcus, it depends more on him than on me," added Amorim. "He has to want it really, really bad. He's here, he's in our squad so he's our player and he's ready to play if I decide.

"In that moment, I was really focused on trying to turn things around, to score one goal to open the game. And I chose, for example, Garna[cho] to do the job. I was not focused on the idea that I put Marcus on or not because he was away for four games. It was not that. If he's there, he's ready to play but I chose Garnacho."

Amorim has also confirmed the club will trigger their one-year option to extend Harry Maguire's contract.

Maguire is due to be out of contract in the summer but Amorim confirmed the former club captain would be staying beyond the end of this season, while also adding that Amad Diallo is "near" to agreeing a new deal with the club.

"Amad is close," Amorim said ahead of Manchester United's trip to Liverpool, live on VidSport Live on Sunday.

"Harry, we are going to trigger our option. I spoke with him this morning and I told him he needs to improve his game on the pitch, we need him a lot. And also he needs to improve as a leader.

"We all know the situation he had here but we need him a lot in this moment so we are going to trigger, happily the option for Harry."

Maguire lost the United captaincy and fell down the pecking order under former manager Erik ten Hag - seemingly on his way out of the club - but has found a new lease of life under Amorim, who prefers to play with three central defenders.

Although Maguire did not take the armband for Monday's 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle despite the absence of suspended captain Bruno Fernandes, Amorim said his leadership qualities were key to the club.

"There are moments in the career of a player that are different," Amorim added.

"I think he coped very well with his struggles and when you look at our team, we are starving for leaders on the pitch.

"He is a leader, he has to improve that part and he has to improve our game and we are happy to continue with him."

Maguire has made 222 appearances and scored 12 goals since joining United from Leicester City in 2019.

The central defender has won two major trophies in that time - the Carabao Cup in 2023, and last season's FA Cup.

Amad, meanwhile, has been one of United's better performers this season and has scored five goals, including a late winner in last month's dramatic victory against rivals Manchester City.

The 22-year-old, who has had loan spells at Rangers and Sunderland, joined United from Atalanta in the summer of 2021.

VidSport Live News reporter Melissa Reddy:

"In the dark days under Erik ten Hag and now during this heavy storm that Ruben Amorim is trying to muddle through - Harry Maguire has emerged as one of the most consistent and reliable players.

"He's gone through some horrendous periods in his Manchester United career, yet through all of that he has remained professional. He has trained really hard, worked really hard, and fought his way back into the fold.

"Amorim has on several occasions held Maguire up as an example for other players who are going through testing periods as a way to show how to manoeuvre out of that.

"He also told us that this club is starving for leaders and that Maguire is one of them."

In an exclusive interview with VidSport Live News at the end of 2024, Maguire backed Amorim to turn United's dismal season around, adding he felt Amorim's job is much harder because he is the "total opposite" of Erik ten Hag.

Amorim has inherited a squad that Ten Hag built to play transitional, counter-attacking football, making them highly unsuitable for his philosophy, which puts an emphasis on possession and deploying a high line.

Amorim also has the added complication of preferring to play with three at the back, but Maguire said he has what it takes to overcome his tough start and drive the club up the table.

"The thing is with the managers and the styles, it is not like they have come in and they have similar styles," Maguire told VidSport Live. "They are the total opposite in terms of what they want and what they demand.

"So the transition period is going to be tough. We all have great belief in the manager and all his coaching staff. I am sure things are going to turn around. He knows exactly what he needs to do to get this club back.

"He has come in and done everything he needs to do. He is really demanding."

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