Paul Merson believes “only one” Manchester United player is “safe” as Ruben Amorim takes over at Old Trafford.

Amorim will become Erik ten Hag’s permanent successor after the international break and although it will not be possible to make widespread changes quickly due to PSR issues, significantly increased thanks to the change of managerreports suggest the Portuguese boss will look to put his own stamp on the team.

The Red Devils’ players will be desperate to give a good account of themselves once Amorim takes over, but Merson doesn’t think any of them are guaranteed a place in the ideal starting XI of Amorim, apart from captain Bruno Fernandes.

“I honestly can’t because you could say seven or eight,” Merson told Sky Sports when asked how many players Amorim might consider moving on.

“They don’t have wingers and I look at Rashford and Garnacho and wonder where are you two going to play.

“The two centre-forwards they have are not really the centre-forward they want, it’s going to be hectic up front, keep the ball and let everyone participate.

“I only see Fernandes as the one who is safest for me. He will play at the back as a No.10 and will be able to play his football. He is Portuguese, he will know him.

“There’s so much hard work to be done there, it’s such hard work. It’s a different league, the league they play in is a different world. You come to Old Trafford, you have to win every game.

Despite his scathing assessment of United’s playing staff, Merson is convinced Amorim is right for the job.

He added: “I spoke to people in Portugal when I was in taxis and to Sporting fans and two years ago they were telling me how good he was.

“They spoke crude English like me. He will succeed, but it will take time, because the rules of fair play no longer allow you to crush yourself, to crush yourself.

“These Manchester United players aren’t going anywhere.”

MORE MAN UTD COVERAGE ON F365…
Scholes picks four Man Utd stars who ‘don’t suit’ for Amorim squad as he identifies ‘problem’
The incredible true cost of Man Utd’s sacking of Erik Ten Hag and hiring of Ruben Amorim revealed
Man Utd criticized for ‘truly terrible performance’ against PAOK with Brazilian flops backed to play for Amorim

Viktor Gyokeres has been inevitably linked with following Amorim to United, but the manager has insisted he will not be moving for the goal machine in January.

Italian site Juve Live has linked Man Utd with a defender and a more realistic, low-cost addition in January in the form of Juventus right-back Danilo, who played for the Red Devils’ arch-rivals Man City.

Danilo – who captains both Juventus and Brazil – is apparently ‘on the verge of leaving’ Turin and Amorim ‘wants’ him at Man Utd in the winter transfer window.

Former Man Utd chief scout Mick Brown, who remains well connected at Old Trafford, has confirmed there will be little money to spend in January.

Brown told Football Insider: “The club would have made him aware of what he will be able to spend. They spent a lot of money to get the manager in and get Ten Hag out.

“From what I’ve heard, there’s not a lot of money left to spend on the players. The board will expect him to have appointed a top coach who can coach the players who are already at his disposal.

“This involves helping the younger ones to develop and helping some of the more experienced ones to perform more consistently. On top of that, there’s the profit and sustainability situation that we know United has struggled with.

“They spent a lot of money this summer and they didn’t leave them with a lot of money left at the end of the window. It will be interesting to see how Amorim approaches things and works with the players he has.

“He will have time to evaluate the team and then, this summer, the funds will be available and he can make the changes he deems necessary.”