Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is reportedly urging decision-makers at the club to launch a move for Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres during the January transfer window.
Gyokeres has scored 27 times in 27 matches for Sporting this term, and he is believed to be Man United's first-choice attacking target.
Due to the team's struggles, Amorim is said to be pushing for the Red Devils to move for the forward in January, but a deal will be incredibly difficult due to financial restrictions.
There could potentially be a way for Man United to complete what would be one of the biggest January deals of all time, though, and with that in mind, Sports Mole looks at five players who could leave Old Trafford in the winter market.
Marcus Rashford
Rashford has been left out of Man United's matchday squad for four of their last five matches, while he was only an unused substitute against Newcastle United in the Premier League last time out.
The 27-year-old was initially dropped for the Manchester derby in the middle of last month and has since expressed a desire to seek "a new challenge", with the forward seemingly looking for an exit route during the January transfer window.
Amorim was unhappy with the forward's performances in training and also his general behaviour around Carrington, which has seen him remain out of favour, and there is a chance that he has played his final game for the club.
Arsenal are said to be interested but are not thought to be willing to pay more than £25m, which falls short of Man United's valuation - said to be somewhere between £40m and £50m.
There is also Saudi Arabian interest, while Paris Saint-Germain are long-term admirers, and it does appear likely that the forward, who has scored seven times this season, will be on his way out of the club, at least on loan, before the end of the winter market.
Casemiro
Casemiro has again been a regular for Man United this season, making 22 appearances in all competitions, but he struggled on his last appearance against Newcastle on Monday night.
The 32-year-old has a contract at Old Trafford until June 2026, with the option of a further 12 months, but there is a chance that he could leave the Red Devils for Saudi Arabia during the winter market.
Al-Nassr are thought to be at the head of the queue for Casemiro, who earns in the region of £350,000 a week, so his departure would see the Red Devils make huge savings when it comes to their wage budget.
Casemiro has made 105 appearances for Man United, scoring 15 times and registering nine assists, but he does not fit into Amorim's new 3-4-3 system due to his lack of mobility, which was demonstrated against Newcastle, and the experienced midfielder is believed to be open to leaving Old Trafford before the end of the month.
Christian Eriksen
Eriksen was another player to struggle against Newcastle last time out, and the 32-year-old only has a contract with the 20-time English champions until the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
The Denmark international has scored four times and registered three assists in 17 appearances in all competitions this season, but those goals and assists have come in the Europa League and EFL Cup.
Indeed, it has been a struggle for him in the Premier League, where he has made 11 appearances, and Man United are said to be willing to let him leave before the end of the January transfer window.
Eriksen has proven to be a successful signing for Man United considering that he arrived on a free transfer, but he is almost certainly in his final season at the club one way or another.
Joshua Zirkzee
Zirkzee's substitution in the first half against Newcastle was widely cheered by a number of Man United fans, which led to the Netherlands international heading down the tunnel rather than immediately taking his place on the bench.
It was an unsavoury incident, but the 23-year-old has struggled this season, only managing four goals and two assists in 27 appearances, and a January exit is seen as likely for the ex-Bologna striker.
Napoli and Juventus are both believed to be interested in the Dutchman, who is highly-rated in Italian football due to his strong form for Bologna.
It will be difficult to agree a permanent exit in January due to the numbers involved, but a loan deal with a future purchase agreement could potentially be settled on, with Man United thought to be looking to cut ties with a player who has found it incredibly difficult to prove himself to the club's supporters during the 2024-25 campaign.
Victor Lindelof
Like Eriksen, Lindelof is out of contract at the end of the campaign, and the Sweden international is set to leave on a free transfer this summer unless an exit can be agreed before the end of the month.
The 30-year-old has been involved this term, making nine appearances, but he has struggled with injury problems and is currently unavailable for selection.
Lindelof has made 268 appearances for Man United since his arrival from Benfica in July 2017, but he is not in the long-term plans of Amorim, and Man United are said to be ready to let him leave in January.
Despite his struggles in the Premier League, Lindelof is highly-rated in European football and can expect to have offers from Italy, with Lazio and AC Milan thought to be admirers.
Even if Man United do not receive a transfer fee for the defender this month, his exit would make space in the wage budget and in the squad for at least one new player to arrive.
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