Manchester United will hope to build on a promising spell for the club when the January transfer window opens in less than a month’s time.
The likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea will look to make the final tweaks to what they hope will prove to be title-winning squads, but United’s ambitions are a little different.
While a title challenge is still beyond a Red Devils team that finished 15th last season, signs of progress means European football is well within reach.
It appeared only a matter of time before Ruben Amorim would be sacked following a difficult start to the season but United have vastly improved since the October international break.
Just one defeat in their last seven games has seen Amorim’s side climb to seventh in the table, just three points outside the Champions League places.
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Manchester United spent a little over £200m last summer, signing three attackers – Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko – as well as goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
It is unlikely that Sir Jim Ratcliffe will sanction any huge deals in January but Amorim will be keen to bolster his squad – and offload any unwanted stars – should the opportunity present itself.
Man Utd target Frankfurt full-back
A number of midfielders have been linked with moves to Old Trafford since the summer transfer window closed and it is true that Amorim wants 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 appear to be the frontrunners for that position.
But Amorim has also stressed the need for talented wing-backs for his favoured 3-4-3 system and recently seemed to question the long-term viability of current options Patrick Dorgu and Diogo Dalot.
According to 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 looks set to be 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 left out 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.
But the 29-year-old made a number of mistakes and generally struggled before being dropped at the start of the season and eventually loaned out to Trabzonspor.
Onana is set to return to Old Trafford in June but Fabrizio Romano says the decision has already been made to move him on at that point, with his chapter at the club considered ‘closed’.
United have made that call partly due to Onana’s struggles but more pertinently because of the bright impact Senne Lammens has had since his £20m summer move from Belgium.
The former Royal Antwerp star has attracted praise from a number of Manchester United legends, including Sir Alex Ferguson and Rio Ferdinand.
What Fergie said about Man Utd and Lammens
‘Well, they are, the signs… The manager has had some good signs.
‘Particularly the goalkeeper has been outstanding, he’s only played three or four games and he’s looking really good.
‘Of course, [Bryan] Mbeumo and [Matheus] Cunha, the new players from Wolves and Brentford, they’ve added to it.
‘I hope the manager gets a bit of success because at United you need to have success.
‘The signs are getting better. I think back-to-back wins is something teams like United should always expect.
‘But having gone through a cycle where the improvement has to come by waiting and being patient, they are enjoying it now.’
While Onana will be moved on next summer, Kobbie Mainoo is pushing to leave Manchester United on loan in January.
Mainoo, once viewed as the most exciting player at Old Trafford, has slipped down the pecking order since Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag last November.
A lack of minutes led Mainoo to ask for a loan move last summer but Sir Jim Ratcliffe was keen to keep the United academy graduate at the club.
Ratcliffe is unlikely to be able to convince Mainoo to stay this time around, however, with the 20-year-old desperately frustrated having yet to start 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 a number of clubs.
Serie A champions Napoli appear to be leading the race to sign Mainoo, with reports in Italy claiming talks have already begun between the two parties.
Mainoo is said 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 not to sign a new central midfielder.
Reservations over Mainoo, an ageing Casemiro and an unconvincing Manuel Ugarte mean a new midfielder will be United’s next big signing.
United are yet to choose between Baleba, Wharton, Anderson or Gallagher, though Paul Scholes has already urged his former club to opt for the Crystal Palace star.
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Undoubtedly the cheapest option would be Gallagher, who has struggled for regular starts under Diego Simeone since joining Atletico Madrid from Chelsea in 2024.
Gallagher, who United enquired about last summer, recently admitted he was frustrated with his game-time at Atletico, though he insisted he was still happy at the club and determined to make a success of his Madrid career.
While Atletico have not put Gallagher up for sale, reports say they are ‘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 think they need,’ Parker said. ‘One player who plays a lot 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 every time you see him grimacing, the lad wants to play games of football.
‘If he doesn’t play, it’s a good reason. Even if he’s had a knock, he wants to play football. And I know that if he comes to Manchester United, that would be the cherry on the top.’
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 came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park on Sunday and are now preparing to face a Hammers team sitting 17th in the Premier League.
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