Manchester United face a crucial few weeks 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 resurgent second half of the season and a potentially worst-ever Premier League finish.
United won’t be fixed in a single mid-season transfer window, but now is the time to address the issues.
There will be no mass buying spree, mainly because availability and/or value is notoriously limited in the January market, but also because clubs everywhere will need to be more careful in financial decisions to avoid risking breaching the regulations .
These are the key positions United could target next month.
Left-back has been a problem position since 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 squad player than a regular, is still building up after more than a year.
Diogo Dalot has often come on as a substitute, but this deprives the right side of the necessary depth and is not a long-term solution.
Most important goals
United have been linked with Hungarian international player Milos Kerkez in the past, although Premier League players tend to be more expensive. It might also be difficult to convince him to leave Bournemouth at this stage. Fulham’s Anthony Robinson has Expressed interest in a transfer to challenge yourself with Brest Star Bradley Locko also linked.
Rayan Ait Nouri from Wolves is a proven Premier League player, but again expensive.
With Marcus Rashford perhaps he is nearing the end of his Old Trafford careerUnited could soon find themselves short on the left side of the attack. Alejandro Garnacho is the other option there, while Bruno Fernandes has alternated between that and a central midfield position.
Mason Mount was also an option, but is again out for “several weeks,” meaning there is no depth without reinforcements.
Most important goals
Former Manchester City star Leroy Sane was repeatedly linked with a departure from FC Bayern Munich due to his expiring contract in the Bundesliga. January would be their last chance to demand a transfer fee for the Germany international should he leave.
There was Speculation in Italy that Juventus could be willing to sell 19-year-old talent Kenan Yildiz 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 in their last game, their xG was clearly superior despite the 3-0 defeat. The team’s 21 goals in 17 Premier League games equates to an average of 1.2 per game, which pales insignificant compared to Liverpool’s average of 2.3.
Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund have both shared time on the pitch since Amorim took control in November, which usually depends on how the coach views the opponent in each game. They have shown potential, but United need more power and competition.
Most important goals
If money were no object, it would be the obvious ideal Viktor Gyokeres. The prolific Swede emerged as Europe’s hottest striker under Ruben Amorim at Sporting CP and his output has suddenly slowed since the coach left Lisbon for Manchester last month.
The biggest problem is getting Gyokeres for less than his €100m (£83m) release clause, at a time when budgets have a real role to play due to PSR.
United have used the loan market to fill gaps in recent years, although it didn’t really work given the players they ended up with – Odion Ighalo and Wout Weghorst. If Paris Saint-Germain were willing to do that Randal Cole Muani Borrow, this might be worth exploring.
