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Ruben Amorim has been sacked as Manchester United head coach after an underwhelming 14 months in charge, with Darren Fletcher set to take over on an interim basis.

The 40-year-old’s appointment in November 2024 brought much hope and excitement to Old Trafford, with the highly-rated Sporting Lisbon coach succeeding Erik ten Hag on a deal until 2027.

But Amorim’s reign has seen more lows – and press conference soundbites – than highs, including overseeing a worst top-flight campaign in 51 years as United slumped home 15th in the Premier League.

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Posts 3 ByBen Goodwin

Oddschecker have gathered a list of the most likely replacements for the Portuguese boss.

20-16: Solskjaer, Mourinho, Nagelsmann, Terzic, Tuchel

Rank

Manager

Odds

20

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

40/1

19

Jose Mourinho

40/1

18

Julian Nagelsmann

33/1

17

Edin Terzic

33/1

16

Thomas Tuchel

33/1

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has experienced guiding United through times of turmoil, but would feel like a step backwards at the second attempt, while Jose Mourinho represents a similar problem having already tried and failed to bring back the glory days at Old Trafford.

Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel are both in charge of major national sides as we approach a World Cup, so their appointments feel less likely than Edin Terzic, who is available having left Borussia Dortmund following a spell in which he won the DFB Pokal and reached a Champions League final.

15-11: Inzaghi, De Zerbi, Zidane, Howe, Pochettino

Rank

Manager

Odds

15

Simone Inzaghi

33/1

14

Roberto De Zerbi

33/1

13

Zinedine Zidane

28/1

12

Eddie Howe

25/1

11

Mauricio Pochettino

25/1

Simone Inzaghi may appreciate a return to elite level football having come so close to winning the Champions League with Inter last season, only to join Al Hilal in the summer.

Roberto De Zerbi wowed with his style of play at Brighton and his Marseille side sit third in Ligue 1, while Zinedine Zidane has not worked in management since leaving Real Madrid in 2021.

Eddie Howe has insisted he is happy at Newcastle but is under pressure following their up and down start to the season, but Mauricio Pochettino, like Tuchel and Nagelsmann, would take a lot of convincing with a World Cup coming up for the United States manager.

10-6: Silva, Carrick, McKenna, Iraola, Emery

Rank

Manager

Odds

10

Marco Silva

20/1

9

Michael Carrick

20/1

8

Kieran McKenna

20/1

7

Andoni Iraola

18/1

6

Unai Emery

16/1

Marco Silva continues to impress at Fulham, outplaying Liverpool in a recent 2-2 draw and guided the Cottagers away from relegation on a tight budget.

Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna both know United inside out and have impressed since stepping up to senior management, but they don’t boast the experience of Unai Emery.

Andoni Iraola is perhaps one of the most exciting but risky names on the list, with his Bournemouth side’s all-out attacking style very hit and miss in recent months.

5-1: Xavi, Southgate, Fletcher, Glasner, Maresca

Rank

Manager

Odds

5

Xavi Hernandez

12/1

4

Gareth Southgate

10/1

3

Darren Fletcher

5/1

2

Oliver Glasner

5/1

1

Enzo Maresca

7/2

Many have tried the decorated player-turned manager route before, and they don’t come much more decorated than Xavi Hernandez, who also won La Liga with Barcelona in 2022-23 as a manager.

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Gareth Southgate drew praise during his time with England for bringing back stability and the feel-good factor, something which is badly needed at United.

Darren Fletcher is perhaps the safest bet to take the permanent gig given he will gain experience in the interim role, but Oliver Glasner’s CV at Crystal Palace includes an incredible FA Cup win while Enzo Maresca was harshly treated at Chelsea and may have a point to prove.

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Posts ByJoe Nuttall

Remarkably, Tottenham Hotspur have finished 2025 with the knowledge that a win at Brentford on New Year’s Day will propel Thomas Frank’s side onto the edge of the ascendancy, two points away from fifth-place Chelsea.

This is curious to note. Spurs’ league form has been abject for much of the annual year, and this season, only twice have the Londoners won on home soil.

But it says something of Tottenham’s resilience and togetherness, and the fact that Frank now has a wonderful chance to use the financial backing that is coming his way and make impactful improvements in the January transfer window, with forwards being eyed.

Spurs looking to sign forwards in January

Change is afoot down N17, with ENIC Group having already agreed a £35m fee with Crystal Palace for the transfer of Welsh winger Brennan Johnson.

Though Johnson has flattered to deceive this season, starting only three times in the Premier League since August, he is still a talented and prolific winger. In May, he snatched the winning goal in the Europa League final against Manchester United.

A replacement must be signed, even with the Lilywhites in need of a centre-midfielder too.

And, according to Sport BILD, via Sport Witness, Tottenham and the Red Devils have been in direct contact with the agents of Said El Mala, who is enjoying a goal-laden breakout year in the Bundesliga with FC Köln.

The 19-year-old is a right-footed, left-sided winger, thus fitting the profile Spurs want. However, his employers know they are onto a winner, and have responded to interest by demanding at least £35m.

That gives him the same valuation as Palace-bound Johnson.

Why El Mala is a big Johnson upgrade

Football’s wheeler-dealing transfer scene rarely allows for smooth and straightforward business, but Johnson is closing on a move to Selhurst Park with minimal complications – though he must agree to the move himself – and that could pave the way for El Mala in a like-for-like switch.

The teenager is worth pursuing, in any case. This season, he has scored six goals in the Bundesliga, assisting two more. He has featured 15 times, starting six of those matches, and last year, he was on loan with Viktoria Köln in the third tier of German football.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig has hailed him for having a “huge future ahead”, already proving he has the physicality and tenacity to match his natural ability and eye for a goal. Sofascore show that he has won 3.4 duels on average per league outing this term.

Clearly, El Mala would mark an upgrade on this current version of Johnson, whose sharpness in the final third has been overwhelmed and discarded following some dismal underlying metrics, such as his accuracy and intent on the ball, losing 70% of his dribbles in the Premier League.

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As you can see below, El Mala is already outstripping the 24-year-old across numerous statistics, and while he has yet to make the jump over to the unforgiving English scene, his clinical edge, creativity and energy all point toward an exciting future.

El Mala vs Johnson (past 12 months)

Stats (per 90)

El Mala

Johnson

Goals scored

0.79

0.39

Assists

0.26

0.04

Shots taken

3.83

1.08

Shot-creating actions

4.09

1.59

Touches (att pen)

6.99

2.75

Pass completion (%)

65.3

67.4

Progressive passes

1.19

2.19

Progressive carries

3.43

1.98

Successful take-ons

2.77

0.73

Ball recoveries

2.90

2.62

Tackles + interceptions

1.98

1.72

Data via FBref

The difference in ball-carrying success is astronomical – especially when considering successful take-ons, a good marker for fleetness and technical control. Johnson is an able dribbler, but he doesn’t apply his skills anywhere near consistently enough.

In fact, El Mala’s success in this regard has seen data analyst Spencer Mossman describe him as “the most direct winger in Europe”, someone who could replace Johnson and produce more goods.

Spurs need a left-sided forward, especially after selling Heung-min Son to LAFC during the summer. El Mala could be the perfect addition, one for the future and one who could surpass Johnson from the get-go.

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Posts ByJoe Nuttall