Manchester United's Premier League task is clear after Saturday's derby win but questions remain when it comes to their transfer plans
Marcus Rashford in action for Barcelona
Marcus Rashford in action for Barcelona(Image: Getty Images)
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Manchester United kicked off the Michael Carrick era in style on Saturday, securing a dominant 2-0 victory over Manchester City in their first league match under the interim manager. This win keeps United's Champions League qualification hopes alive, which would help mitigate the disappointment of early exits from both domestic cups.
The club now faces the question of whether or not to spend in order to solidify their position in the league. However, with no permanent managerial appointment expected until the summer, there may be some hesitation to reach too deeply into their coffers.
What could potentially prompt United to act is competition from other clubs for their targets. They shelled out over £200m on new signings over the summer when Ruben Amorim was still in the dugout, with Bryan Mbeumo in particular showing his worth.
As we approach the final two weeks of the transfer window, there's much for Carrick and the United hierarchy to ponder. Here are the latest transfer updates from around Old Trafford
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Barcelona exit 'imminent'
Marcus Rashford, currently on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United, is set to lose one of his senior colleagues in Catalunya. Marc-Andre ter Stegen is looking for more playing time as he aims to secure a spot in Germany's World Cup squad and he shows no signs of getting those minutes at Camp Nou.
Ter Stegen made his comeback from injury in December but has been unable to dislodge new number one Joan Garcia. His sole outing this campaign was in the Copa del Rey clash with CD Guadalajara, and reports on the continent suggested he was made available to United before the new year.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen at Espanyol vs Barcelona
Marc-Andre ter Stegen is on the move(Image: Getty Images)
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The 33 year old has now found himself a new club. He expected to join local rivals Girona on a temporary basis, with Spanish publication Sport (via Football Espana) suggesting the transfer could be finalised within days.
This development follows Barcelona's La Liga advantage being reduced to a single point after they lost to Real Sociedad over the weekend. Rashford entered as a substitute to momentarily equalise for Hansi Flick's team at Anoeta, just days after being told he wasn't likely to be part of Flick's preferred starting line-up when everyone is fit..
"With Raphinha in that sort of form, it's going to be difficult for him to play too much football," Lineker said on The Rest is Football. "But... [Barcelona] can see that he's doing really well and apparently they want to see if they can negotiate with Manchester United."
Mateta discussions ongoing
Juventus are continuing negotiations for Jean-Philippe Mateta as they attempt to secure the signature of the player who has been repeatedly linked with Manchester United. There are no immediate signs that the Old Trafford club will enter into a transfer battle this month, but the Italian giants appear intent on completing a deal swiftly.
Reports from Italy suggest that Juventus are prepared to re-enter negotiations after Crystal Palace rejected an initial bid of £26million. There seems to be a discrepancy between Italian and English sources regarding Palace's asking price, but it is believed to be at least £30m.
Napoli are also said to be interested in the striker, who has netted 38 Premier League goals since the beginning of the 2023/24 season. His contract with Palace runs until 2027, and it remains to be seen whether they will decide to cash in earlier.
Palace are already grappling with the departure of another crucial player. Former skipper Marc Guehi has completed a move to Manchester City for less than the £40m the London club had hoped to secure for a player whose contract expires this summer.