The damning Manchester United transfer update ahead of January window

Ruben Amorim does not expect Manchester United to make any major signings during the January transfer window.

The Portuguese head coach has inherited an inadequate squad during his debut season but is well aware he will not be able to shape it into his own vision unless funds are raised through player sales first.

United sources have reiterated finances are 'tight' ahead of the forthcoming window and that players must first be offloaded before they can even think about adding anyone to their first-team playing squad.

It means United's focus will be on shifting senior stars next month and that any new arrivals at the club would most likely be short-term loan option for the remainder of the campaign or free agents with suitable wage demands.

Speaking after the latest defeat to Newcastle on Monday night, Amorim told reporters: "We don’t have that possibility in January," he said. "You know the situation better than I [do]. It’s not the case I am not arriving here and I can spend a lot of money, changing all the team. You know the situation so it’s not a point to talk about it."

United will once again entertain offers for just about every first-team player in the January transfer window, with the club well aware that they might find it difficult to shift some players due to their current transfer valuations and hefty wage demands.

Marcus Rashford is one of those who would be allowed to leave United next month, though there are few clubs who appear in a position to buy him outright as well as match his salary demands. There is extra incentive for United to sell Rashford due to the fact he is an academy graduate, so any transfer fee received would be recognised as pure profit from a financial point of view.