It’s been a memorable January at Manchester United – from Ruben Amorim’s dramatic exit to a brilliant start to life under Michael Carrick.
The recent wins over Manchester City and Arsenal have lifted the mood around Old Trafford, to put it mildly, and taken United up to fourth in the Premier League table.
But while it’s been an eventful month in many ways, one area where it’s been a little quiet has been the transfer market.
With just a few days left in the window, United are yet to bring anyone in. But with the team flying high and Champions League football suddenly a very real possibility, will that change this week? Our man NATHAN SALT has all the answers…
1. What have Manchester United done so far this January?
Nothing, to this point. That’s not a huge surprise.
United’s most important signings were always going to come off the pitch this month, once it was decided that Amorim was to be sacked.
Michael Carrick, along with his backroom staff, has brought a fresh energy to Manchester United
Former England coach Steve Holland has been a really smart choice as Carrick’s assistant
Carrick, along with his backroom staff, have brought a fresh energy to a group that senior figures such as Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada have long insisted is good enough to get into the top four, without reinforcements.
Steve Holland has been a really smart pick as Carrick’s assistant, while Jonathan Woodgate has gone down very well with many senior players due to his ability to communicate in Spanish.
United sources stressed even before Amorim was removed that their plans have always been somewhat fixated on the summer, where there is greater scope to make more wholesale changes.
The problem with that is it is imperative United secure Champions League football this season. And with squad depth lacking in some key positions, it feels like making no move is akin to playing Russian Roulette.
2. Where do they still need to strengthen?
They need a midfielder and, depending on what further testing this week reveals about the damage to Patrick Dorgu’s hamstring, another option down the left.
Taking the left-sided issue to start with: Carrick now has just one orthodox left back option available to him in Luke Shaw, while Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount are both different profiles to Dorgu.
Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui could play at left back were something to happen to Shaw. But Dorgu’s final test results could yet precipitate a late move for an alternative, given both Diego Leon and Tyrell Malacia are not viable first-team options between now and the final day at Brighton.
The midfield issue, meanwhile, has been problematic for some time. United’s head of negotiations, Matt Hargreaves, has had numerous meetings throughout January on the feasibility of a short-term midfield option, with extremely limited depth of just Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte to play in Carrick’s 4-2-3-1.
Patrick Dorgu’s final test results on his hamstring injury could yet precipitate a late move for an alternative left back
The United hierarchy have been working towards major surgery on the midfield in the summer, with Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest (right) a primary target
James Garner was a topic of discussion before he penned a new and improved contract at Everton, while Joao Gomes, Tyler Adams, Wilfred Ndidi and Ruben Neves have all come up in conversation. Felix Nmecha is another name that was floated by a well-connected German source.
The major sticking point is that the hierarchy at United have been working on the proviso that major surgery will be undertaken on the midfield in the summer, with Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton their three primary targets.
But sources at United are increasingly twitchy about the prospect of not making a move and it going on to cost them Champions League football, a scenario that nobody behind the scenes is willing to contemplate right now.
While all the noises at Old Trafford are that things could be very quiet, nobody wants to go as far as ruling anything out.
As one source put it, a stop-gap midfielder on loan until the summer could be something that moves ‘very, very late’.
3. Which players are they targeting?
A few of them have been mentioned above but in Premier League circles, United’s main three targets are not a secret.
Ineos, guided by the likes of director of recruitment Christopher Vivell, are always very clear on their long-term primary transfer targets, as evidenced in the summer with Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap, who was all-but ready to sign for United before they missed out on European football and he went to Chelsea.
Anderson is their absolute top priority but the same is being said over at Manchester City and the level of positivity or negativity on the likelihood of that potential move depends on who you ask. The permanent head coach – at both clubs – is understood to be a major factor, with Anderson keen to wait until after the World Cup to decide his future.
United are relaxed around Carlos Baleba of Brighton (right), who has privately expressed a desire to play at Old Trafford alongside international team-mate Bryan Mbeumo
United like Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace but he is being heavily pursued by Liverpool
Wharton is being heavily pursued by Liverpool in the build-up to the summer, while United are somewhat relaxed around Baleba, who has previously privately expressed a desire to play at Old Trafford alongside international team-mate Bryan Mbeumo.
The left winger market is going to be one to pay closer attention to in the coming months with United likely to stick to a back-four system regardless of whether Carrick remains in charge or not.
Sources in Italy have said that AC Milan would consider a sale for Rafael Leao, while Ineos’ Premier League-proven preference brings others such as Tyrique George, 19, and available to leave Chelsea, and Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, under contract until 2029, into consideration.
4. Who could still leave this month?
A key part of the current squad restructuring is centred around reducing the overall wage bill and an early announcement that Casemiro and his £375,000-a-week basic wage will depart at the end of the season is a start.
Joshua Zirkzee is the most intriguing senior player that could depart, with the expectation now that, due to such limited depth, Ugarte will stay until the summer despite interest from Turkey.
Zirkzee picked up a calf problem in the final stages of the FA Cup defeat by Brighton but he is being targeted by multiple Serie A clubs, including Juventus.
A number of academy players are set for loan exits with Toby Collyer heading to Hull City, Ethan Wheatley off to Bradford City and Sekou Kone expected to stay with Ineos-owned Lausanne-Sport until the end of the season following a month-long trial period in Switzerland.
The mindset at United remains that a tune-up or two, both in and out, is possible for January but major moves, including permanent exits for Andre Onana and Marcus Rashford, are being prepped for the summer. Onana’s agents have held talks with Inter Milan about a return to the club in the summer once his loan with Trabzonspor in Turkey comes to an end.
Joshua Zirkzee is the most intriguing senior player that could depart and he is being targeted by multiple Serie A clubs, including Juventus
5. Where are we at with Mainoo’s contract extension?
There’s a lot more confidence in this now than there was at the very start of this month as Amorim was preparing the team to take on Leeds at Elland Road.
But talk of it being a foregone conclusion is premature. Sources have stressed that United have a lot of ground to make up after the past 12-18 months and that the issues did not just start and end with Amorim, but instead include figures in the hierarchy.
But undoubtedly regular play time, a genuine shot at making the England World Cup squad for the summer and a shelved loan move to Napoli suggest this is all heading in the right direction.
The key question now surrounds how much trust the club are putting in him for the longer term… and where they want to place him in the wage structure, with Mainoo keen to be reflected alongside the team’s top earners.
Talk of Kobbie Mainoo signing a contract extension is premature. Sources have stressed that United have a lot of ground to make up after the past 12-18 months
6. And could Harry Maguire stick around?
He’s played well in the past two games – winning the man-of-the-match award at Arsenal – but it feels increasingly unlikely.
United have had ample opportunity to get Maguire on to fresh terms but there appears to be limited willingness at this stage to do so with his contract now around five months from expiry.
Maguire is not short of interest with multiple clubs in Italy enquiring with a view to a pre-contract agreement, while there is also a handful of Premier League teams who are very keen on a free transfer in the summer.
Carrick is a fan of Maguire but senior United figures are keen to see next season’s minutes go to Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven, two young players that United believe will be the bedrock of the backline for years to come.
