Manchester United’s squad might be significantly enhanced if their ideal January transfer window occurs.
This season, United has declined due to a slew of injuries and bad form afflicting several of its key players.
Manchester United were eliminated from the Champions League after winning just one game and finished last in Group A, trailing Galatasaray, FC Copenhagen, and Bayern Munich.
Ten Hag’s side were also knocked out of the Carabao Cup in the Round of 16 by Newcastle, and their Premier League performances have been mainly bad.
Indeed, between the start of the season and Christmas, United dropped 13 games in all competitions, the highest since the 1930/31 season.
While United are unlikely to be very active in the January transfer window, given that the Premier League will still be ratifying Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25% stake in the club, there are a few players who have been associated with the club that might help them.
Here is a list of possible signings that would constitute a perfect transfer window. Some of these signings are, of course, more likely than others.
Defenders
Given the uncertain futures of Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire, as well as the fact that Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans are both out of contract next summer, it is likely that United will buy at least one new centre defender.
Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo is one of the players with whom United has been heavily associated. While Tottenham are also thought to be interested in the French international, United may have a leg up on their Premier League rivals because Nice is on Ratcliffe’s list of football clubs.
In other news, the Manchester Evening News reported in the summer that Bayer Leverkusen defence duo Jeremie Frimpong and Edmond Tapsoba were both targets.
While they would provide stiff competition for United’s current squad, neither is likely to depart Leverkusen’s Bundesliga title chase in the middle of the season.
Midfielders
The emergence of Kobbie Mainoo will have reduced the immediate need to sign another midfielder, but United have been connected with 22-year-old Belgian Amadou Onana ahead of January.
Onana created waves in his debut season in English football after a £30 million move from Lille, and he has reportedly drawn the attention of Premier League clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United.
However, such a trade may be unfeasible in the middle of the season, with Everton fighting to avoid relegation following a 10-point deduction for financial irregularities.
Forwards
This season, United’s major problem in the Premier League has been goal-scoring, and Ten Hag will be eager to bring in another striker to relieve the pressure on 20-year-old Rasmus Hojlund.
According to reports in Germany, United are eyeing a January deal for Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, who has seven goals in 17 Bundesliga appearances for the Netherlands Under-21 national team.
Zirkzee joined Bologna from Bayern Munich in August 2022, although the Bundesliga winners apparently have a €22 million (£19 million) buyback option.
United were also linked with Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy, who has 17 goals in the Bundesliga this season, although interest in the Guinea international looks to have cooled.
Ten Hag’s side is also rumoured to be interested in Sporting’s Viktor Gyökeres and Brighton’s Evan Ferguson, but both of those potential deals would be prohibitively expensive for United.
