Manchester United have a few key weeks ahead of them in the January transfer market.
It will be the first opportunity to add to the squad since the managerial change in November, and a constructive month could be the difference between a revival in the second half of the season and potentially the worst Premier League finish ever.
United won’t fix themselves in any mid-season transfer window, but there’s no time like the present to start fixing the problems.
There will be no mass spending, mainly because availability and/or value in January is known to be limited, but also because clubs everywhere need to be more careful with their financial decisions to avoid falling foul of regulations.
These are the key positions United could target next month.
Left back is a problematic position from the end of the 2022/23 season. Luke Shaw has missed so much football due to injury and Tyrell Malacia, who has always been more of a team player than a regular starter, is still building after more than a year.
Diogo Dalot often filled in, but that takes away depth on the right and is not a long-term solution.
Key objectives
United is affiliated with Hungary International Miloš Kerkez in the past, although Premier League players tend to be more expensive as a general rule. It could also be difficult to convince him to leave Bournemouth at this time. Fulham’s Antonee Robinson there is expressed interest in the transfer to challenge himself, with the Brest star Bradley Locke also related.
Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves is a proven first league player, but again expensive.
With Marcus Rashford perhaps towards the end of his career at Old TraffordUnited could soon be short on the left side of attack. Alejandro Garnacho is the other option there, while Bruno Fernandes has switched that position to a central midfield position.
Mason Mount was also an option, but is again ruled out for “a few weeks,” so depth is lacking without a backup.
Key objectives
Former Manchester City star Leroy Sane was repeatedly linked with the departure of Bayern Munich due to the expiration of the contract with the Bundesliga player. January would be their last chance to secure a transfer fee for the German international if he leaves.
It was speculation in Italy that Juventus might be willing to sell the 19-year-old talent Kenan Yildiz in order to raise funds for other parts of the squad.
One of United’s biggest problems this season has been getting the ball into the net – even against Bournemouth last time, their xG was vastly superior despite losing 3-0. The team’s 21 goals in 17 Premier League games is an average of 1.2 per game, which pales in comparison to Liverpool’s average of 2.3.
Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund have shared time on the pitch since Amorim took charge in November, usually depending on how the boss views the opposition in each game. They showed potential, but United need more firepower and competition.
Key objectives
If money were no object, the obvious ideal would be Viktor Gyokeres. The prolific Swede has transformed into Europe’s hottest striker under Ruben Amorim at Sporting CP, and his output has suddenly slowed since the boss left Lisbon for Manchester last month.
The main problem is getting Gyokeres for anything less than his €100m (£83m) release clause at a time when budgets have to be seriously considered due to PSR.
United have used the loan market to fill gaps in recent years, although that hasn’t worked much given the players – Odion Ighalo and Wout Weghorst – they’ve got. If Paris Saint-Germain would be willing to allow Randal Kolo Muani go on loan, it might be worth investigating.
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