Man Utd Block Transfer of Player Amid Interim Manager Talks

Manchester United have blocked the transfer of a squad player amid the current uncertainty surrounding the club's managerial situation.

United are on the search for a new boss following the sudden sacking of Ruben Amorim after 14 months in charge.

Amorim was dismissed from Old Trafford the day after a 1-1 draw at Elland Road against Leeds United following a breakdown in relations behind the scenes with football director Jason Wilcox.

Darren Fletcher is currently taking charge of United in a caretaker role, overseeing a 2-2 draw in the Premier League against Burnley on Wednesday evening.

Fletcher will continue at the helm for tomorrow's FA Cup third round clash at Old Trafford against Brighton & Hove Albion.

According to multiple reports, United are seeking to appoint an interim manager until the end of the season, with Michael Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the frontrunners.

United will then seek to make a permanent arrangement in the summer, when several potential candidates will be out of contract either at the end of the domestic season or at the conclusion of their time coaching national teams at the World Cup.

The likes of Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola are both out of contract at Crystal Palace and Bournemouth respectively, while international managers including Thomas Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti will be available after their World Cup commitments with England and Brazil end, as things stand.

Toby Collyer has been recalled to Manchester United from West Bromwich Albion. (Image: Getty)

The Red Devils currently sit seventh in the Premier League table and are in the hunt for European football next season, but it remains unclear if there will be much transfer activity this month in the January transfer window.

United were one of several clubs interested in Bournemouth attacker Antoine Semenyo, but he has since joined Manchester City in a £65m deal.

One player who has returned to Old Trafford this month is midfielder Toby Collyer, who had been on loan at Championship side West Bromwich Albion.

The 22-year-old was due to be at the Hawthorns for the whole campaign, but United opted to recall Collyer from his spell with the Baggies.

Collyer made 12 appearances in the Championship for West Brom, most of which were from the bench, but he has not featured since the end of November after picking up a calf injury.

Collyer could head back out on loan for the rest of the season and, as per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, fellow Championship side Hull City have asked the Old Trafford club about taking the midfielder for the second half of the campaign.

However, any approval on such a move to the Tigers has been delayed until United makes a decision on its choice of interim boss, and raises the question of whether Carrick or Solskjaer would want to keep Collyer at Old Trafford to feature in the Premier League.

Collyer made 13 appearances for United in all competitions last season, making his competitive debut in the 2024 Community Shield against City.