What could this January's transfer deadline day look like for Manchester United? We used Football Manager 26 to simulate their business
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 17: Michael Carrick, caretaker head coach of Manchester United, gestures during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on January 17, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Michael Carrick will be hoping to see out the season on a high(Image: James Gill - Danehouse, Getty Images)
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After last year's struggles, Manchester United have started to claw their way back up the Premier League table.
Having finished just two places outside the relegation zone in May, the Reds are now in contention for a Champions League spot. But with Chelsea and fierce rivals Liverpool in the mix, the January transfer window offers an opportunity to bolster the ranks and consolidate their position.
To figure out exactly what United could look for on deadline day, we simulated the window on Football Manager 26. Much like in real life, the digital Red Devils are up in the fight for European football on our FM26 save.
Sitting pretty in fifth place, in-game United don't rest on their laurels. Choosing to reinforce the squad, the club spent a significant amount of money on new signings by the time the window slammed shut on February 2.
Man United's 2026 January transfer deadline day simulated
Splashing the cash, United brought in five new players on our FM26 simulation. Three of them arrived from Spain, as the Red Devils did most of their business with La Liga sides.
In fact, one deal saw a player arrive at Old Trafford with a United player going in the opposite direction on loan. What effectively amounted to a swap deal meant defensive reinforcement at the Camp Nou.
Bolstering the middle of the park appeared to be a priority for United, as they dropped a whopping £48.5m on a defensive midfielder from Sevilla. However, by the time their transfer business concluded, they had strengthened in almost every area of the pitch.
Incomings - £87.5million
Lucien Agoume
Lucien Agoume made a big-money move to United in our FM save(Image: 2025 DeFodi Images)
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Raul Asencio (Real Madrid) - £29m
Wojciech Szczesny (Barcelona) - £4.6m
Jake Evans (Leicester) - £5.25m
Lucien Agoume (Sevilla) - £48.5m
Emiliano Buendia (Aston Villa) - Loan
While Lucien Agoume's big-money signing undoubtedly takes the headlines, there are some eye-opening moves made at Old Trafford. The signing of Wojciech Szczesny as a back-up goalkeeper to summer arrival Senne Lammens is an intriguing one, while Raul Asencio's £29m transfer also gives United more defensive cover.
After dropping £5.25m on winger Jake Evans from Leicester, it is the signing of another wide man that raises eyebrows. Emi Buendia joins the club on loan on deadline day, somewhat bloating United's attacking midfield options.
Outgoings - £125k
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 25: Diogo Dalot of Manchester United celebrates during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 25, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Diogo Dalot was sent to Spain as part of a swap deal in the simulation(Image: Marc Atkins, Getty Images)
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Tyler Fredricson (Swansea) - £125k
Diogo Dalot (Barcelona) - loan
Young centre-back Fredicson's £125,000 move to Swansea suggests the club no longer expects him to one day join the first team. But it's Diogo Dalot's transfer to Spain that's a real head-scratcher.
Altay Bayindir's £6.75m departure to Besiktas earlier in our sim allows the move for Szcezney, which coincidentally works as a swap deal for Dalot. The full-back has started almost three-quarters of United's real-life matches and performed solidly.
His loan move to Barcelona makes little sense for United on the face of it. But his transfer includes an option to make it permanent for £44m, so perhaps the bean counters will be pleased come the end of the campaign.
Overview of Manchester United's transfer history during a Football Manager 26 simulation
How United's transfer activity worked out in the sim(Image: Sports Interactive/screenshot)
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Elsewhere in the simulation, arch rivals Manchester City splashed a combined £130m to sign former Arsenal man Lucas Torreira from Galatasaray and replicated the real-life signing of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth. City's business accounted for around a third of the league's total £311m net spending.
Torreira's transfer cost City £60m initially, but this will rise to £80m with add-ons. The biggest transfer outside the Premier League was Raphinha's £69m transfer from Barcelona to Saudi side Al-Ittihad.