‘I’m a Man Utd legend – Ruben Amorim should sell these five players’ 

Manchester United legend Nicky Butt has urged Ruben Amorim to sell five players, including former Chelsea star Mason Mount.

There was widespread optimism among the United faithful when Amorim arrived at Old Trafford last month following Erik ten Hag’s sacking.

Despite winning a couple of cups under Ten Hag, Manchester United largely underwhelmed under the Dutchman and were just 14th in the Premier League when he departed.

United showed signs of progress in Amorim’s second game in charge, putting four past Everton, but the Red Devils then lost to title-chasing Arsenal and surprise top-four contenders Nottingham Forest.

Amorim was able to lift the mood with a late comeback victory over Manchester City in the derby but United have lost three games in a row since that win at the Etihad.

They were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Tottenham before suffering humbling defeats to Bournemouth and Wolves without scoring a goal.

As a result Manchester United are still 14th in the Premier League, some 20 points behind leaders Liverpool – who also have a game in hand – and just eight points above the relegation zone.

Amorim has reiterated it will take time to implement his ideas on the squad and the Portuguese boss is expected to bring in some of his own signings, both during the January transfer window and next summer.

That will inevitably lead to some departures from the Theatre of Dreams and Butt, speaking to talkSPORT, has named five players he believes should be offloaded.

The six-time Premier League winner was asked whether he would ‘keep or sell’ several first-team players and admitted he would be looking to get rid of a number of stars, including Chelsea and England midfielder Mount.

United spent £60m to sign Mount from Chelsea in the summer of 2023 but the 25-year-old has so far been a flop, struggling with both form and fitness.

He made just 14 league appearances last season and started just four Premier League games of the current campaign before suffering yet another injury setback.

Butt has also given up hope on fellow Manchester United midfielders Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, who have been widely tipped to struggle under Amorim.

Five-time Champions League winner Casemiro suffered a worrying slump in the second-half of last season and was urged to quit top-level football by the likes of Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher.

Eriksen, meanwhile, has popped up with a few goals this season but does not appear to be of the calibre needed for United – one of the most successful teams in English football history – to get back to the top.

Butt also wants Manchester United to move on from Andre Onana, their £47m goalkeeper who has been prone to errors since his move from Inter Milan.

Onana helped Inter reach the Champions League final in his last season in Serie A but has looked vulnerable in the United goal and made another mistake in the recent defeat to Wolves.

Butt says his former club must also replace Jonny Evans, who has produced some impressive performances but at 36 is clearly past his best.

Manchester United endured a miserable December but there is no reason to presume results will pick up any time soon ahead of a testing run of fixtures.

Amorim’s side return to Premier League action on Monday night against in-form Newcastle United, who have scored 14 goals across their last four games.

The Red Devils then travel to Anfield to face league leaders Liverpool before a FA Cup third-round meeting with Arsenal.

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