Serie A giants plot January loan swoop for Manchester United star: Reports

Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia, who has only just recovered from a long-term injury, could reportedly be sent on loan in the January transfer window. Serie A giants Juventus are interested in taking the young left-back temporarily, as per TuteJuve.

The Dutchman, who last played for United in their 0-3 defeat to AFC Bournemouth on December 22, could be a potential replacement for Danilo, who has reportedly been made available for transfer by Juventus. Injuries have reduced Malacia to just five appearances for the Red Devils across all competitions this season.

The arrival of new head coach Ruben Amorim has seen a shift in a new system, in which Manchester United play with three defenders and two wingbacks. So far, the likes of Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo have operated in the wingback positions in Malacia and Luke Shaw's absence.

Shaw returned to fitness in November but sustained another hamstring injury in December. This is likely to rule him out for a considerable amount of time. Interestingly, former Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal played Malacia as a central defender, and the latter could be used in the same position at Juventus.

Having missed the entirety of 2023-24 due to injury, Malacia played 39 matches across all competitions for United in 2022-23. He arrived in the 2022 summer from Feyenoord, becoming one of former manager Erik Ten Hag's first signings.

His numbers for the Dutch club were rather impressive, having made 139 appearances in all competitions and even scored four goals. United will hope that the loan move gives him some game time and allows him to return to match fitness. His contract at the club runs till the summer of 2026.

Ruben Amorim has had a tough start to life at Manchester United

Former Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim, who was brought to Manchester United amid much fanfare in late 2024, has found the going extremely tough. Under his watch, United have lost six out of the 11 matches across all competitions.

Taking over from Ten Hag, Amorim promised to be a hopeful candidate to many fans of the club, but the team's recent form has not suggested that at all. Reports claim that his players are still taking some time to come to terms with his unique three-man backline, as well as philosophy.

United play one of the biggest matches of this campaign when they travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool on Sunday, January 5. Amorim's men will be tasked with the onerous job of keeping the current league leaders away from picking up all three points on offer.