Manchester United's recent January transfer business shows they are not averse to signing players in winter, but their main priorities may be forced to wait until next summer.
Ruben Amorim walks on the pitch.
Man Utd head coach Ruben Amorim will have to consider his options in the January transfer window.
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Manchester United are heading into the January transfer window with several areas of Ruben Amorim's squad in much need of improvement. This summer, United spent around £240million, but there remain unanswered issues.
Amorim's side currently sit seventh in the Premier League table, an improvement to last season's torrid league campaign. Alongside balancing their Europa League endeavours, the Reds finished 15th last term, in their worst season in 51 years.
Summer signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have been key to their turnaround, with goalkeeper Senne Lammens also playing a crucial role after he came in to replace Andre Onana. A solution at centre-forward remains unsolved, though Benjamin Sesko's start to life in England was also going to take time to adjust.
At the back end of the summer window, United pushed for a new midfielder in Carlos Baleba. After opting against pursuing a move - or perhaps being priced out of the market for him - Amorim has been forced to work with his current players. With no European football coinciding with an early exit from the Carabao Cup, there has been little rotation.
Fast forward to December, and United are heading into the upcoming January transfer window with the rumour mill in full flow. Over these past couple of days, wing-backs and midfielders have been the talk of the town, with options from all around Europe said to be on Jason Wilcox's radar.
Last January, Amorim brought in 20-year-old Patrick Dorgu from Italian side Lecce for £25million to boost his left wing-back options, not to mention teenager Ayden Heaven from Arsenal. Amorim admitted last week that there had been nerves when Dorgu had the ball in recent matches, less than a year after his switch.
Patrick Dorgu of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on November 24, 2025 in Manchester, England.
Patrick Dorgu was dropped for the win at Crystal Palace
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"He needs to be calmer playing the game. You can feel the anxiety every time Patrick touched the ball, I can feel it, that anxiety," he said. "And I remember the shot [missed] against Everton. That was easier than the decision that he had to make when the guys from Scotland were there, when he made a great decision.
"And I saw it when he played in Italy. But, again, here's different and sometimes the pressure is hard for them in the beginning, but he has time to improve."
Before them, Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer signed as temporary stock gaps in 2023. Bruno Fernandes was the last notable success as a January recruit back in 2020 for an initial fee of £46.6million - rising to £68million. Going back even further, Juan Mata (2014), Henrik Larsson (2007) and Nemanja Vidic (2006) have arrived in winter to become successes in their own regard.
At Sporting CP, Amorim enjoyed a more hands-on approach in the winter market. Paulinho, Marcus Edwards and Ousmane Diomande all arrived in January and were utilised as key players throughout his tenure in Portugal.
In January 2026, United aren't expected to break too many - if any - records with their business. The majority of the movement out of Old Trafford is likely to be due to outgoings, specifically short-term loans, yet Amorim's desperate need for new blood is not a bad thing.
Ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp once explained why January transfers cause more problems. "We want to have players who are ready to develop and that's not a message for the winter transfer window," he said in 2016.
"If you don't have the biggest injury issues in the world and you need players only for the line-up then you should only do things you would do in the summer too, because otherwise you solve a problem for half-a-year then have another one in the summer."
Even with United needing a new midfielder, it would be a surprise if they spent heavily in January. And there isn't expected to be a new striker, even despite Sesko's injury and Joshua Zirkzee being linked with a move back to Italy.
Instead, predicting what business United will do next summer offers insight into any potential developments next month. The two obvious areas for imminent improvement are at left wing-back, following Dorgu's recent struggles, and in central midfield.
Still only 21, Dorgu is learning his trade in the Premier League. Diogo Dalot is better suited on the right, meaning a better option to sit in front of Luke Shaw is needed. The midfield situation is more pressing.
Kobbie Mainoo isn't anywhere near Amorim's preferred plans; that's been evident this season. Should the England international depart on loan in January, then they'll almost certainly have to bring in a temporary fix. However, in the long term, when Casemiro's contract expires next summer, a headliner name is needed - whether that's Adam Wharton, Angelo Stiller or even Baleba.
With shy of £100million spent on Fernandes and Dorgu over the last five January transfer windows, United are not pacesetters in the winter. However, they have demonstrated their desire to recruit if the timing and price are right.