Manchester United intend to keep the availability of Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui confidential ahead of Monday’s visit by Bournemouth, according to reports. The club will reportedly delay any confirmation until as late as permitted to preserve a tactical advantage.

Amorim addressed the situation on Friday, saying: “We are still in conversations with national teams,” as he indicated he expected clarity “in the 24 hours that followed.” The Manchester Evening News state United will keep the decision behind closed doors in an attempt to surprise Monday’s opponents.

United are under no obligation to reveal the availability of the trio until the deadline of 75 minutes before kick-off, and the club are expected to take advantage of every possible second.

Defensive options remain limited because centre-back duo Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt are still unavailable. There had been initial confidence that striker Benjamin Šeško was close to returning from a knee injury, but that comeback now faces uncertainty after a separate issue.

Amorim was candid on Šeško’s condition: “Ben, we have to see,” he said. “We have to see if he’s available. He had some [food] poisoning but we’ll see. Let’s wait.” No further update has been revealed and there has been significant speculation on social media that Šeško will not recover in time for the Bournemouth match.

Bournemouth will travel with the clear objective of disrupting United’s bid to move closer to the Champions League qualification places. United’s decision to withhold team news until the latest permissible moment is intended to limit their opponent’s preparation and preserve selection flexibility.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim offered measured praise for Bournemouth and their manager Andoni Iraola as the Red Devils prepare to host the Cherries at Old Trafford on Monday night. Bournemouth have slipped to 14th in the Premier League table after a poor run of results, but Amorim warned that their recent form does not tell the whole story.

United have recovered in recent weeks, taking seven points from the last nine available and recording away wins at Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers. A victory over Bournemouth would see United move into the Premier League’s top four at the end of the weekend.

Amorim also pointed to Bournemouth’s recent success at Old Trafford, noting their 3–0 wins there in consecutive Premier League seasons. He said he was more focused on the way Bournemouth play than on results alone.

“Special. I think the way they play the game like a big team, what he’s doing for some players,” Amorim told his Friday news conference. “I think he’s improving some players, and you can look at that team and they have several players that can play in a high level. That is an amazing job by the manager.”

He added: “I think it’s a top team, top manager with a special player. I don’t look to the results. I look at the way they face every opponent. They press really strong, they are really direct in the game.

“They can play with different options in front and that gives us a lot of options to work, to prepare the game. So I expect, again, a Premier League game that is really tough but we need to win, especially at home, and that is the goal.”

Amorim’s reference to a “special player” could be Antoine Semenyo. United are reported to have strong interest in Semenyo, but completing a move may require triggering the £65 million ($86.9 million) release clause that is active in his contract for most of January. Rival interest from Liverpool and Manchester City complicates any transfer, and there is no guarantee United would prioritise Semenyo over summer midfield reinforcements that may require significant investment.

Chelsea were held to a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth as a patchy attacking display and a first-half injury hindered their response after the Leeds defeat. Robert Sánchez produced the standout performance, his 8.5 rating reflecting a crucial save shortly before the break that kept Chelsea level.

The Blues showed some life after the interval, Alejandro Garnacho heading against the post and Cole Palmer testing Đorđe Petrović with shots that briefly threatened to change the game. Overall, though, Chelsea offered too little to deserve more than a point away from home.

Player ratings (out of 10)
GK: Robert Sánchez — 8.5
RB: Malo Gusto — 8.1
CB: Trevoh Chalobah — 7.5
CB: Wesley Fofana — 7.9
LB: Marc Cucurella — 7.2
DM: Reece James — 7.1
DM: Enzo Fernández — 7.0
RM: Pedro Neto — 7.1
AM: Cole Palmer — 7.6
LM: Alejandro Garnacho — 6.7
ST: Liam Delap — 5.7

Substitutes
Marc Guiu (31’ for Delap) — 6.6
João Pedro (58’ for Palmer) — 6.5
Estêvão (77’ for Garnacho) — 5.7
Subs not used: Filip Jörgensen (GK), Benoît Badiashile, Jorrel Hato, Josh Acheampong, Andrey Santos, Jamie Gittens.

Liam Delap left the field after 30 minutes with a shoulder injury sustained in a physical duel with Marcos Senesi, forcing an early change. Earlier, Bournemouth thought they had taken the lead inside four minutes when Antoine Semenyo celebrated, but a lengthy VAR check ruled Evanilson offside. Defensive nerves were visible in Chelsea’s opening phase and it took time for the team to settle.

In the second half Chelsea increased their urgency. Garnacho’s header hit the post and both Enzo Fernández and Cole Palmer drew saves from Đorđe Petrović, a former Blue. The match statistics underline the story: Bournemouth generated the better expected goals and more efforts on target, while Chelsea held more possession and a higher pass accuracy but produced too little in the final third.