Man Utd January transfer window: Three moves confirmed, three more that could still happen & plans explained

Manchester United sit eight in the Premier League table at the start of 2024. It’s not a position fans, players or the manager deem acceptable, but an underwhelming campaign in many senses means United’s ambitions in the second half of the season have been altered.

Any chance of improving the team’s fortunes via the January transfer market also look unlikely, although it has been a busy start to the window for the Red Devils…

What business have Man Utd already done?

United confirmed three moves in the first four days of the January market. Firstly, Donny van de Beek completed his loan move to Eintracht Frankfurt, while Sergio Reguilon has cut short his time at Old Trafford and returned to parent club Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.

Elsewhere, Charlie McNeill 's unsuccessful loan move to Stevenage has been cut short and he is back at United.

Can we expect any more outgoings?

Yes. Jadon Sancho’s departure to Borussia Dortmund on loan looks likely, four months on from his public social media criticism of Erik ten Hag. The winger hasn’t been reintegrated into the squad since and has been forced to train with the youth squad.

Meanwhile, United would ideally like to move on Anthony Martial this month, although finding a buyer could be tough. That problem prevented him leaving last summer despite Ten Hag keen on the 28-year-old’s departure. Raphael Varane is another who could move on if an acceptable offer is presented, while Casemiro has attracted interest from Saudi Arabia.

What about incomings?

While major arrivals haven’t totally been ruled out it looks very unlikely (almost impossible!). United would ideally like to strengthen in the centre-back and striker positions, with Jean-Clair Todibo and Donyell Malen among the players the club are keen. The former almost certainly won’t be on his way to Old Trafford due to his price, while a loan is the only way Malen would end up at United.

Short-term deals had to suffice last year, with Jack Butland, Marcel Sabitzer and Wout Weghorst arriving on loan. That is a route United could look to explore once again this window.

Why are Man Utd unlikely to make permanent signings?

The main reason is due to Financial Fair Play (FFP) with one source describing United’s balance sheet as ‘tight’. They simply don’t have much wiggle room, and the Red Devils were fined a fee of just over £250,000 last summer for a minor breach of Uefa’s FFP model, and United won’t be the only club who will have noticed the harsh punishment administered to Everton by the Premier League two months ago.

The ongoing takeover saga will also have an impact on budgets and general decision making at all levels. While Sir Jim Ratcliffe is not yet an official stakeholder in the club, his influence is already being felt and an Ineos delegation were at the club on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. With Ratcliffe set to take over the reins of the football operations when his 25 percent stake in the club is ratified, it makes major decisions such as transfers very complicated.

What has Ten Hag said about transfers?

The United boss tends to keep his cards close to his chest, but admitted last month in an interview with fanzine United We Stand, that January additions look unlikely. “I don’t think so,” he said. “And if so, the approach from United should be that if you can improve your team, then you should do. 

“Realistically, in relation to the market, most of the time you don’t attract the best players in the winter. The top, top players will not leave their clubs in the winter. It’s players who are disappointed, injured or just not the right fit or whatever. In reality, we go to the next summer window and there will be new players coming in.”

Ten Hag also pointed to players returning from injury as a reason why United don’t plan to make any major moves during the season. “The current squad I am happy, as we get our players back, we have a good squad,” he explained before the loss to West Ham United.

“A lot of the way it went in the first season, the reasons behind because many players were not available. I am sure when all players on board it looks different, Casemiro, [Lisandro] Martinez, [Mason] Mount, we will be much stronger after the window.”