Manchester United face a crucial few weeks ahead in the January transfer market.
It will be the first opportunity to add to the squad since November’s managerial change and a constructive month could be the different between a resurgent second half of the season and a potential worst ever Premier League finish.
United won’t be fixed in a single mid-season transfer window, but there is no time like the present to start addressing problems.
There won’t be a mass spending spree, largely because there is famously limited availability and/or value in the January market, but also because clubs all over are having to be more careful with financial decisions so as not to risk breaching the regulations.
These are the key positions that United could look to target next month.
Left-back has been a problem position since the end of the 2022/23 campaign. Luke Shaw has missed so much football due to injury and Tyrell Malacia, who was always more of a squad player than a regular starter, is still building himself up from well over a year out.
Diogo Dalot has often filled in, but it takes depth away from the right and isn’t a long-term solution.
Key targets
United have been linked with Hungary international Milos Kerkez in the past, although Premier League-based players are typically more expensive as a general rule. It might also be tough to convince him to leave Bournemouth at this time. Fulham’s Antonee Robinson has expressed interest in a transfer to challenge himself, 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 nearing the end of his Old Trafford career, United could soon be short on the left side of the attack. Alejandro Garnacho is the other option there, while Bruno Fernandes has switched between that and a central midfield position.
Mason Mount was also an option but is again ruled out for “several weeks”, so depth is lacking without reinforcement.
Key targets
Ex-Manchester City star Leroy Sane has been repeatedly linked with a Bayern Munich exit due to his expiring contract with the Bundesliga. January would be their last chance to command a transfer fee for the Germany international if he is to leave.
There has been speculation in Italy that Juventus could be willing to sell 19-year-old talent Kenan Yildiz in order to raise funds for other parts of the squad.
One of United’s biggest issues this season has been putting the ball in the back of net – even against Bournemouth last time out, their xG was significantly 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 into insignificance compared to the 2.3 average achieved by Liverpool.
Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund have both shared time on the pitch since Amorim took control in November, typically depending on how the boss views the opponent each game. They have shown potential, but United need more firepower and competition.
Key targets
If money was no object, the obvious ideal would be Viktor Gyokeres. The prolific Swede 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 major problem is getting Gyokeres for anything less than his €100m (£83m) release clause at a time when budgets have to be a real consideration due to PSR.
United have used the loan market to plug gaps in recent years, although it hasn’t massively worked given the players – Odion Ighalo and Wout Weghorst – they’ve ended up with. If Paris Saint-Germain would be willing to let Randal Kolo Muani go on loan, that could be worth exploring.