Manchester United haven't exactly had the best record in the January transfer window in recent years.
Last year, with Ralf Rangnick in interim charge, the club failed to bring any new faces into the club as they chose to direct funds towards the summer window and maximise the budget for their next manager to conduct their overhaul. In fairness, that was probably the correct decision given that Erik ten Hag barely put a foot wrong during his summer revamp of United's playing squad.
Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Antony all arrived with Martin Dubravka joining on a loan, which has now been terminated by Premier League rivals Newcastle United, and have all made impressive starts to their careers at Old Trafford. It must be slightly frustrating for Rangnick to watch, though.
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The German has claimed since his departure from United that he discussed signing six players with club chiefs – but none of them arrived.
Rangnick told German outlet BILD: “We were already discussing players like Josko Gvardiol and Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig. Those were names that were realistic. We also talked about Alvaro Morata, Luis Diaz, Dusan Vlahovic and, as I said, Erling Haaland when they were still on the market.
“But the club decided at that time to rebuild the team under the new coach.”
Two of those players, Diaz and Vlahovic, ended up moving in January – suggesting Rangnick had wanted the club to bring them in a year ago. Rangnick's predecessor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had wanted Kieran Tripper, who moved to Newcastle United in the January window, while the club had also considered Moises Caicedo before he joined Brighton in January 2021.
Bruno Fernandes aside, United have quite simply struggled to find value in the January window – but Erik ten Hag's squad would certainly be in much better shape had some of those names come in. Vlahovic and Trippier alone would have plugged two of the biggest gaps the club are currently facing.
With Ten Hag's revolution now in full swing, United will know they need to press on with the squad rebuild this month and fresh signings are needed, with a striker to replace Cristiano Ronaldo the minimum fans expect. Rivals have already moved quickly this window with Liverpool bringing in Cody Gakpo, who the Reds boss is a big fan of, while Chelsea continue to be busy following Todd Boehly's acquisition of the club last summer.
It means now is not the time for United to rest on their laurels – they must back Ten Hag this month in order to push home the fantastic start he's made this season. With the club starting to look more and more likely of achieving a top four place in the Premier League, they simply cannot let their rivals gain ground on them - and now is the time to make significant moves in the January window. It would make a pleasant change.
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