Sir Alex Ferguson has made clear he'd be dead against Man Utd swap deal

The futures of Manchester United starlets Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo are up in the air at the moment, likely to Sir Alex Ferguson's chagrin.

The legendary Scot branded both youngsters the "heart and soul" of United last year following their simultaneous emergence from the club's academy. But the pair look increasingly unsettled at Old Trafford, particularly since Ruben Amorim's arrival in November, and could both be shown the door this month.

Garnacho, who hasn't started a match since being unceremoniously dropped from the squad ahead of the Manchester derby in December, is reportedly considering his future. Mirror Football understands that the 20-year-old is likely to stay put, at least until the summer, though an ambitious swap deal with PSG may nonetheless be on the cards.

United are eager to sign a wing-back or two in January, and PSG's Nuno Mendes - who played under Amorim at Sporting CP - is a long-term target of theirs. According to The Independent, the club have held informal talks with PSG in the last few days, and a Garnacho-for-Mendes deal has been discussed.

Mainoo, 19, is open to a departure, too, amid reports he's unhappy with his current United contract. Chelsea are monitoring the situation closely, though it's thought that they'd need stump up around £100million to sign the midfielder, whom United view as a vital first-team player.

Should either man leave, Ferguson might have a thing or two to say about it. In July last year, he spoke glowingly about the impact both Mainoo and Garnacho had made since breaking into the senior side, describing their accomplishments as emblematic of what it means to be a Manchester United prospect.

"[They are] the heart and soul of what Manchester United has been since the days of Sir Matt Busby, who started the whole process of trusting young players playing," he told TikTok star Jamal Niaz. "They're young. What they're showing at the moment, the composure and confidence to play in the first-team, and not be daunted by it.

"In a way, it shows you the kind of courage they have. It's a distinction in human beings, some have the will to be that [fearless at a young age]."

Garnacho's importance to United has waned a little in the last few months, particularly in light of Amad's impressive run of form. The Argentinian has started just half of United's Premier League matches this season and could look to leave in search of regular football if game time remains hard to come by.

Mainoo, on the other hand, has been more or less ever-present in the line-up since returning from an ankle injury in October. He's been by far and away United's most consistent midfielder over the past 12 months or so and is expected to play a big part in Amorim's plans going forward.

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