As Manchester United approaches the January transfer window, the club finds itself grappling with the absence of up to eight players, sidelined due to injuries and commitments at the Africa Cup of Nations. Despite these challenges, the club remains resolute in adhering to its pre-planned strategy.

United’s summer expenditures totaled a substantial £236 million, necessitating a cautious approach to spending when the window opens on Thursday. Nevertheless, there remains the potential for new acquisitions.

In an analysis by CHRIS WHEELER, a seasoned observer of United for Daily Mail Sport, the possibilities of incoming and outgoing transfers at Old Trafford are explored, alongside an assessment of how the summer signings have performed thus far.

Discussions within the club have largely focused on the need for a defensive midfielder. However, manager Ruben Amorim hinted that his January target might not align with this need. This became evident as United entered the race for Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo.

“Even if we try to bring one player, maybe it’s not for the position that we need at that moment,” Amorim remarked last week. United then joined the fray, alongside Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Chelsea, expressing a readiness to activate Semenyo’s £65 million buyout clause, effective until January 10.

Despite this interest, the club is likely to face disappointment, with the Ghanaian international leaning towards a move to City. Old Trafford’s stance, however, has been clear: United will not make hasty decisions in response to losing players like Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui to the Africa Cup of Nations, nor to the injuries plaguing Bruno Fernandes, Matthijs De Ligt, and Harry Maguire. Additionally, Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount have been dealing with injuries.

Kobbie Mainoo wants more game time and so is seeking a move away from Old Trafford, but Manchester United will not sell unless they have a replacement lined up 

United have lost Bryan Mbeumo to the African Cup of Nations but will not panic buy due to his absence

United will, however, bring forward a deal planned for the summer if the opportunity presents itself, and Semenyo was one example of that approach.

The question now is whether United have an alternative target to Semenyo as well as a midfielder in mind, or are they happy to wait until the summer?

A new wing-back is also on the shopping list. It’s hard to see the window closing without them making at least one new addition.

2. Do they have money to spend?

There was some sobering news for fans earlier this month when United’s first-quarter financial results revealed that the club’s overall debt has rocketed to an all-time high of £1.29billion.

That includes money owing on transfers and the additional £105m United borrowed from a revolving credit facility to help cover the cost of signing Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Senne Lammens last summer.

More encouragingly, the cost-cutting measures and redundancies instigated by Sir Jim Ratcliffe resulted in an operating profit of £13.3m and a forecast for full-year revenues of £640m-£660m.

Selling Alejandro Garnacho and Antony while loaning out Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Rasmus Hojlund, also helped United to raise revenue and drive down the wage bill by a total £6.6m to comply with profit and sustainability rules.

Although the club are now understood to be well within PSR limitations, the numbers would still have to add up before United could pay £65m for Semenyo or another big signing, so selling another player or loaning them with an obligation to buy in the summer cannot be ruled out.

Moving Rasmus Hojlund out on loan to Napoli has helped to reduce United’s wage bill

3. Who are they targeting?

United have already shown their hand with Semenyo, but a number of defensive midfield options are being considered as Casemiro enters the final six months of his contract and Manuel Ugarte struggles to hold down a starting place.

Mainoo continues to push for a loan move in January, and Amorim says he won’t be allowed to leave unless United sign a replacement, so a more attack-minded midfielder is also a possibility.

Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson is understood to top the list of targets, but the England international is unlikely to be available until the summer and won’t be short of other admirers.

United inquired about Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Conor Gallagher, of Atletico Madrid, late in the summer window and both players remain of interest along with Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams – currently sidelined with the knee injury he sustained against United at Old Trafford – and Joao Gomes of Wolves.

Gallagher would be available in January, even though Atletico would insist on a £35m sale instead of a loan deal. Two other options to emerge for next month are former Wolves captain Ruben Neves, who wants to return to the Premier League from Saudi club Al-Hilal, and United academy graduate James Garner who is entering the final six months of his contract at Everton, who have the option to extend it by a year.

Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson is understood to top United’s list of midfield targets, but the England international is unlikely to be available until the summer

Connor Gallagher (centre) is on United’s list of midfielders and would be available in January, even though Atletico Madrid would insist on a £35m sale instead of a loan deal

United are also keen on Crystal Palace’s midfielder Adam Wharton (left)

4. How have their summer signings fared so far?

United have every reason to be pleased with their transfer business in the summer. Mbeumo cost £71m from Brentford and has been the best player so far alongside Fernandes, top scoring with seven goals.

The Cameroon forward has linked up superbly with Amad on the right, and losing those two players to Afcon has been a big blow for Amorim.

Matheus Cunha, a £62.5m signing from Wolves, will be disappointed with a modest return of three goals but the Brazilian’s confidence and swagger have marked him out as a good fit for a club where the shirt has too often weighed heavily on new players.

Sesko was the most expensive signing at £73.7m but the Slovenia striker has struggled to make an impression at Old Trafford, with just two goals to his name so far. His progress has also been interrupted by a knee ligament injury. Whether United upgraded by replacing Hojlund with Sesko is still open to debate.

The club made a bold move in signing new goalkeeper Lammens from Royal Antwerp, first by deciding to send Andre Onana on loan to Trabzonspor and then choosing the young Belgian over World Cup winner Emi Martinez.

It has paid off so far with Lammens providing the stability and calm at the back that the erratic Onana could not. The 23-year-old had to wait until October for his debut, but slotted straight in and has hardly put a foot wrong since.

Senne Lammens has provided stability and calm in the United goal

5. And who might leave?

If United need to raise money for new signings in January – particularly a forward – then selling Joshua Zirkzee would be the obvious means of financing a deal.

Zirkzee, who joined for £37m in summer 2024, has struggled to fit in at United, first in Erik ten Hag’s 4-2-3-1 system which Amorim has now adopted, and the 3-4-2-1 favoured by the Portuguese coach.

Joshua Zirkzee has struggled to fit in at United, first in Erik ten Hag’s 4-2-3-1 system and then in the 3-4-2-1 favoured by Ruben Amorim

Roma have been trying to take the former Bologna forward back to Serie A since the summer, although sources say that the reports claiming the Italians have made an offer to take Zirkzee on loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the season are premature.

Mainoo has made no secret of his desire to move to Italy on loan at Napoli after failing to make a single Premier League start so far this season but, again, United would want to have a replacement lined up before sanctioning a move.

Amorim has been happy to carry a smaller squad this season after failing to qualify for Europe for only the second time in 35 years meant a lighter fixture schedule. But after allowing nine players to leave in the summer, he would be reluctant to see a further reduction in numbers.

The fact that United have not moved to extend Casemiro’s contract or offer Harry Maguire new terms before the turn of the year suggests both players will be on their way in the summer, but it’s unlikely they would go in January.