Manchester United will hope to construct on a promising spell for the club when the January transfer window opens in lower than a month’s time.
The likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea will look to make the ultimate tweaks to what they hope will prove to be title-winning squads, but United’s ambitions are a little bit different.
While a title challenge continues to be beyond a Red Devils team that finished fifteenth last season, signs of progress means European football is well nearby.
It appeared only a matter of time before Ruben Amorim can be sacked following a difficult begin to the season but United have vastly improved for the reason that October international break.
Only one defeat of their last seven games has seen Amorim’s side climb to seventh within the table, just three points outside the Champions League places.
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Manchester United spent a little bit over £200m last summer, signing three attackers – Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko – in addition to goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
It’s unlikely that Sir Jim Ratcliffe will sanction any huge deals in January but Amorim shall be keen to bolster his squad – and offload any unwanted stars – should the chance present itself.
Man Utd goal Frankfurt full-back
Quite a lot of midfielders have been linked with moves to Old Trafford for the reason that summer transfer window closed and it’s true that Amorim desires to strengthen in that area of the pitch.
Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher seem like the frontrunners for that position.
But Amorim has also stressed the necessity for talented wing-backs for his favoured 3-4-3 system and recently appeared to query the long-term viability of current options Patrick Dorgu and Diogo Dalot.
In line with Florian Plettenberg, Manchester United have now joined Real Madrid and Barcelona in showing interest in Eintracht Frankfurt left back Nathaniel Brown.
Germany international Brown, 22, has been scouted by Real Madrid on multiple occasions this season and is valued at around £50m.
Known for his attacking runs and crossing ability, Brown earned his first full international cap in October and appears set to be a part of Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad at next summer’s World Cup.
Onana’s Man Utd chapter ‘closed’ – and Mainoo off too
It has been a difficult few days for Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, who was unnoticed of Cameroon’s squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
United spent £47.2m to sign Onana from Inter Milan in 2023 and had high hopes for a shot-stopper who has just played in a Champions League final.
However the 29-year-old made quite a few mistakes and usually struggled before being dropped at first of the season and eventually loaned out to Trabzonspor.
Onana is about to return to Old Trafford in June but Fabrizio Romano says the choice has already been made to maneuver him on at that time, together with his chapter on the club considered ‘closed’.
United have made that decision partly on account of Onana’s struggles but more pertinently due to the brilliant impact Senne Lammens has had since his £20m summer move from Belgium.
The previous Royal Antwerp star has attracted praise from quite a few Manchester United legends, including Sir Alex Ferguson and Rio Ferdinand.
What Fergie said about Man Utd and Lammens
‘Well, they’re, the signs… The manager has had some good signs.
‘Particularly the goalkeeper has been outstanding, he’s only played three or 4 games and he’s looking really good.
‘In fact, [Bryan] Mbeumo and [Matheus] Cunha, the brand new players from Wolves and Brentford, they’ve added to it.
‘I hope the manager gets a little bit of success because at United you have to have success.
‘The signs are convalescing. I believe back-to-back wins is something teams like United should at all times expect.
‘But having undergone a cycle where the development has to come back by waiting and being patient, they’re having fun with it now.’
While Onana shall be moved on next summer, Kobbie Mainoo is pushing to depart Manchester United on loan in January.
Mainoo, once viewed as probably the most exciting player at Old Trafford, has slipped down the pecking order since Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag last November.
An absence of minutes led Mainoo to ask for a loan move last summer but Sir Jim Ratcliffe was keen to maintain the United academy graduate on the club.
Ratcliffe is unlikely to have the ability to persuade Mainoo to remain this time around, nonetheless, with the 20-year-old desperately frustrated having yet to start out a league game this season.
Mainoo knows he needs more game-time to salvage any hopes he has of being included in England’s World Cup squad and fortunately has attracted interest from quite a few clubs.
Serie A champions Napoli seem like leading the race to sign Mainoo, with reports in Italy claiming talks have already begun between the 2 parties.
Mainoo is claimed to be keen on a move to Naples, where he would reunite with former Manchester United stars Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay and play under ex-Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.
Midfielder to be signed as Atletico set Gallagher price
Despite being satisfied with the club’s transfer dealings last summer, Amorim was frustrated to not sign a brand new central midfielder.
Reservations over Mainoo, an ageing Casemiro and an unconvincing Manuel Ugarte mean a brand new midfielder shall be United’s next big signing.
United are yet to choose from Baleba, Wharton, Anderson or Gallagher, though Paul Scholes has already urged his former club to go for the Crystal Palace star.
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Undoubtedly the most affordable option can be Gallagher, who has struggled for normal starts under Diego Simeone since joining Atletico Madrid from Chelsea in 2024.
Gallagher, who United enquired about last summer, recently admitted he was frustrated together with his game-time at Atletico, though he insisted he was still comfortable on the club and determined to make a hit of his Madrid profession.
While Atletico haven’t put Gallagher up on the market, reports say they’re ‘open’ to a January deal for a price of around 30m euros (£26m).
That represents a far cheaper price than Baleba, Wharton or Anderson will go for and ex-United star Paul Parker has endorsed a bid for Gallagher.
‘He’s the one player I believe they need,’ Parker said. ‘One player who plays a variety of football, doesn’t get injured often, and is willing to play.
‘I’ve watched him many a times when he was at Palace and when he was at Chelsea and each time you see him grimacing, the lad desires to play games of football.
‘If he doesn’t play, it’s a great reason. Even when he’s had a knock, he desires to play football. And I do know that if he involves Manchester United, that may be the cherry on the highest.’
While Amorim has one eye on the January transfer window, his immediate focus is on Thursday’s Premier League clash against struggling West Ham.
United got here from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park on Sunday and at the moment are preparing to face a Hammers team sitting seventeenth within the Premier League.
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