With the turn of the year, the January transfer window has officially opened, meaning clubs across Europe now have the opportunity to acquire and sell players throughout the month.
Manchester United are preparing for what promises to be a busy and eventful transfer period, with the team desperately in need of reinforcements to come in and bolster the club’s top four ambitions.
The first on the list is a striker and then a right back to come in and replace Diogo Dalot.
United is not synonymous with being extremely active during the winter window. However, current times require the club to dive into the market for quality recruits to give Erik ten Hag what he needs.
However, the Red Devils are hampered by the club’s current cash struggles. It is an open secret that United are in a tumultuous situation with regard to their finances. The club is crippled with debt, making it difficult for them to access lines of credit. In the midst of an impending acquisition, the Glazers are unlikely to sanction the cash splash, with prudence the order of the day.
United will therefore be heavily reliant on loan deals and provisional signings that will present temporary solutions.
striker search
After the Cody Gakpo hit, United have now set their sights on alternative striker targets. Joao Félix is one of those to watch. The Portuguese is at the top of United’s list, but on the condition that the finances of his loan deal are drastically reduced.
It has been widely reported that United have deemed Atlético Madrid’s €21m demands too excessive and untenable. The player himself would be open to coming to United as successor to Cristiano Ronaldo. The talks are ongoing. United are aided in their search for Felix by the fact that the 23-year-old is hell-bent on leaving the Wanda Metropolitano.
Another striker name to take into account is Álvaro Morata. Chelsea’s failure is a legitimate target for United and, like Felix, he too would arrive on loan at Old Trafford. Unlike the Félix situation, there has been no indication of ongoing negotiations with either Atlético Madrid or Morata’s representatives.
Youssoufa Moukoko is an option for the 20-time English champions. Today, it was reported that Barcelona are virtually out of the race to sign Moukoko as Camp Nou bosses consider the player’s salary demands too high. Moukoko’s salary would not be a problem for United far from it. With just six months left on his contract at Signal Iduna Park, Moukoko could be had at a reduced price.
Another realistic option is Memphis Depay. Depay exceeds the needs of Barcelona. Ten Hag is said to be a fan of his fellow Dutchman and would be interested in adding him to the ranks. Depay is also likely to be on loan. Since his failed initial spell at United, Depay has reinvented himself and turned his career around. A second chance at a career at Old Trafford would undoubtedly appeal to the 28-year-old.
Other names in the hunt for strikers who have been floating around include Kolo Muani, Eric Maxim Choup-Moting, Vincent Aboubakar, Marcus Thuram and Lyon’s Moussa Dembele.
Income in other positions
The emphasis is very much on attackers, despite the links in other positions. United are said to be fans of Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez.
However, there is a slim chance that the Reds will outplay their rivals with the services of Fernandez. Chelsea have already started talks with Benfica for the 21-year-old who would be in the final stretch. The Argentine has given his approval for the negotiation to take place. Fernández’s €120m release clause effectively excludes United from the race for his services.
United have also been linked to Malo Gusto, Josip Juranovic and Jeremie Frimpong. Whichever of these does come in would largely depend on Aaron Wan-Bissaka leaving. Only then would a right back enter.
Gusto and Juranovic would be cheap, with their respective clubs desperate to sell them. Bayer Leverkusen, on the other hand, as relayed by Fabrizio Romano, would be reluctant to let Frimpong leave in January unless some crazy offer comes through. United certainly won’t make expansive or impetuous offers in January.
The departure of Martin Dubravka also means United can explore the market for a goalkeeper until at least the end of the season, with a view to buying a viable challenger for David de Gea in the summer.
Bills
Wan-Bissaka seems to be the United player most destined to leave. Several Premier League clubs have expressed interest, including Crystal Palace, West Ham and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Unless Ten Hag changes his mind, Wan-Bissaka will leave the club.
Other players who could be loaned are Brandon Williams, Axel Tuanzebe, Shola Shoretire, Zidane Iqbal and Anthony Elanga.
Athletic stipulated that United are willing to listen to offers for Williams and Tuanzebe that are not on Ten Hag’s mind at the moment.
Everton have put Elanga at the top of their wish list and are intent on acquiring the Swede to come into their attacking line.
It was reported after the summer transfer window that Ten Hag blocked loan moves for Iqbal and Shoretire pending a decision on the future of the academy graduates in January.
The two have barely featured in the first team so far and could be loaned out to Championship sides, a tactic that has so far proved fruitful with the likes of Amad Diallo and Hannibal Mejbri currently enjoying brilliant spells.
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