Ruben Amorim to hand five Man United players imminent transfer lifeline after appointment

We are in the endgame for a specific but still large group of players at Manchester United. For many, it was already at this point if not beyond.

They are less than one week away from Ruben Amorim starting as head coach. It will come during the international break, a spanner in the works for the significant tactical changes expected to follow him from Portugal, but doesn't change the outstanding reality. Places and futures are at stake, here.

This United squad is one formed mostly with Erik ten Hag in mind. The amount of signings made that he had already worked with or was linked inextricably to, is a path well trodden by now.

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The excuses will have to stop immediately. The word of ex-United players - Roy Keane, for one - is that not many of this group will actually be around in Amorim's grand plans. It will certainly take time to overhaul a squad still being put together, but the point stands.

This is Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos' man. Amorim is their appointment. The transfers made and changes to the crop of players will be done with their influence and direction. For some it might be too late to turn things around fully.

Others, though, have one last opportunity. Maybe it's one they don't deserve, but it will come either way. New managers always bring a clean slate, but for how long that lasts is another matter entirely.

As soon as Amorim walks through the door the race is on to make it into his preferred XI. For some, if they don't end up in the selection picture, of if their performances don't improve, then