Manchester United’s aims for the January transfer window

A look ahead to January for the Red Devils.

Transcript

00:00So, Rich, looking at Manchester United and obviously the January window approaching now,

00:05obviously, it's sort of become a window that the top flight navigate quite, quite carefully

00:10in, you know, the PSR and FFP rules do tend to hurt a few clubs now, and they are sort

00:16of treading on thin ice when it comes to January. And it's a bit of a strange month, you know,

00:22because, you know, look at the likes of Liverpool, they're going to need maybe someone to help

00:27boost them towards that title. Manchester United are in a bit more of a stranger position.

00:33They want to really just secure, you know, going for those European places. So, how do

00:38you sort of look at January for Man United? It's a bit of a strange window, you know,

00:42only a month to get some deals in or out. Who sort of stands out for United in this

00:48window? So, we do know that United are looking long term at least getting a new left wing

00:54back. They want to get some new midfielders and a new striker. They'll also need a centre

01:00back next summer. That won't be sort of addressed for now because Lindelof and Evans both have

01:04a contract at the end of the season. That's one for them. So, in terms of what we might

01:07see in January, United have already provisionally agreed a deal to sign Diego Leon. He's a 17

01:13year old from Paraguayan club, Cerro Portino, I believe it's pronounced, or something along

01:19those lines. He can't join until he's 18 in April. So, there might be an agreement in

01:23place for Diego Leon in January, but he won't join United until next summer. In terms of

01:29what else they might do in terms of business, the financial situation is tight, we hear,

01:33and it's even tighter because United's uncertainty of qualifying for the Champions League. Obviously,

01:39they're only a couple of wins away from those places again. I still do think United will

01:42be there or thereabouts come the end of the campaign, but you can't plan to spend Champions

01:46League money until you've got the confirmation of it. So, I think United will be very limited

01:51in what they do in January. They could get rid of a few players, it'll mostly be loan exits,

01:56but players like Lindelof, players like Christian Eriksen, out of contract at the end of the season,

02:01they could be sold now just to get some money in, just to help balance the books in whatever way

02:06they can. I wouldn't be surprised if United moved for a wing-back, or maybe even another striker,

02:13on loan in January. Similarly to how they got Weghorst, how they got to Sergio Reguilon in

02:18the past. Not these big star names, outcasts at other clubs, people who need a bit of a chance,

02:24but people who can come in and do an adequate job. I'm not saying United need to find their

02:29permanent solutions next month, but hopefully get some players in who can help them towards

02:33that end goal. So, in terms of January, I expect an agreement for Lyon, maybe loan signing,

02:39maybe a free agent if there's anyone about, but I really don't think there is. I haven't looked

02:42at the markets online myself, and then exits. Marcus Rashford is talk of the town at the moment,

02:48but for all the rumours and whispers and speculation around him, he has such a high

02:54wage demands, and he's still got a high chance of valuation as well. So, as fanciful as it is,

03:01however easy it is to move players on when you're playing FIFA or a football manager,

03:05it is a lot harder in real life. So, I'm expecting a quiet January at Manchester United.