Manchester United plan first January signing in years to rescue worst start in four decades

Manchester United are preparing to make a rare foray into the January transfer market, with the club’s board acknowledging that summer recruitment failings have left the squad dangerously short in multiple positions — contributing to their worst start to a season in 40 years.

According to The Times, United will look to bring in at least one new player in the New Year as Michael Carrick faces mounting pressure following a deeply disappointing opening to the campaign. The club spent heavily in the summer on midfield reinforcements, bringing in Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba, but question marks have quickly emerged over the first two, while Baleba has only recently returned from injury.

Historically, United have been reluctant to do business in January. Since Bruno Fernandes arrived from Sporting CP in February 2020 — a signing widely regarded as a transformative success — the club has completed just three January deals. Amad was signed from Atalanta in January 2021 but remained on loan with the Italian side. Ayden Heaven was recruited from Arsenal as a long-term development prospect. The only player brought in with immediate first-team intentions was Patrick Dorgu, who joined from Lecce under then-manager Ruben Amorim as a wing-back option. Since Amorim’s dismissal and the team’s reversion to a conventional back four under Carrick, Dorgu has shown promise but is not yet a regular starter.

Under Erik ten Hag, United did dip into the loan market in January windows, bringing in Jack Butland, Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer, but none made a lasting impact and those decisions drew criticism at the time.

The areas of need are well-documented. United failed to sign a left-back in the summer to provide cover for the injury-prone Luke Shaw, and have not added a senior centre-half since Leny Yoro arrived in 2024. In attack, the situation has been further complicated by an injury to Benjamin Sesko, leaving the forward line stretched.

The club’s willingness to act in January is itself an admission that the summer window did not go to plan. The challenge now is executing deals in a market that typically inflates prices — selling clubs are well aware when a buyer is operating under pressure — while identifying players capable of making an immediate difference rather than adding to a growing list of long-term projects.