Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has rejected suggestions that the Red Devils could look to enter the free agent market to boost their squad for the final stages of the 2024-25 campaign.
The 20-time English champions were missing 12 first-team players against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend due to a mixture of injury and illness, and nine will be absent for Saturday's Premier League clash with Everton at Goodison Park.
Lisandro Martinez and Amad Diallo have recently been ruled out for the season, while there are also fears that Mason Mount will be unavailable for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.
Kobbie Mainoo is another currently on the sidelines, with the Englishman out until at least the start of April, and aside from Victor Lindelof, Man United's bench against Spurs was made up by academy players.
However, Amorim has insisted that Man United are not looking at free agents to boost their squad.
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Amorim: 'Man United not considering signing any free agents'
"No, no. Not that idea. We have young players, we are working with young players. We have to really focus on that, as a club, when we have, at this moment, a lot of injuries," he told reporters during his press conference on Friday.
"We should use the young players. If not, you don't have the space for them to improve and show themselves. I think we really need to focus in the future of our club on the youth, because of the history and because of the reality of our club."
Man United's squad for Saturday's game against Everton will be boosted by the returns of Leny Yoro, Christian Eriksen and Manuel Ugarte, but there will still be room for some academy players to be included.
One of those is likely to be 17-year-old Chido Obi, who made his first-team debut as a late substitute against Tottenham.
Elyh Harrison will also be the second-choice goalkeeper for the game at Goodison Park, as both Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton are on the sidelines with unspecified issues.
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Could Man United sign any free agents this summer?
Man United are believed to be giving serious consideration to moving for Jonathan David this summer, with the Canadian revealing that he will be leaving Lille when his contract expires at the end of June.
Bayern Munich duo Joshua Kimmich and Leroy Sane are also thought to be on Man United's radar, although the Red Devils would surely have to secure Champions League football for next season to stand a chance of signing either player.
Lille's Angel Gomes, Crystal Palace's Tyrick Mitchell and Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin are also potential options for the Red Devils this summer, with all three soon to be out of contract at their respective clubs.
Matt Law
