It was a strangely quiet January as far as Manchester United are concerned, with the INEOS hierarchy wisely not rushing into any panic buys or desperate late moves, even with Champions League qualification still on the line.
The situation could well have been different, however, had the Red Devils won the battle for Antoine Semenyo's signature, with the Ghanaian frustratingly choosing to join rivals Manchester City on a £62.5m deal.
Man-Utd-Man-City-Semenyo
To the delight of Old Trafford, the 26-year-old was desperately quiet in the recent derby meeting, although his start to life at the Etihad couldn't have gone much better otherwise, scoring four times in just his first six games under Pep Guardiola's watch.
Now up to 12 Premier League goals all season, a tally bettered only by new teammate Erling Haaland and Brentford's Igor Thiago, the ex-Bournemouth star has been a revelation over the last 18 months or so, with Ruben Amorim having rightly been desperate to secure his services.
Biggest Premier League deals winter 2026 (timeless deadline day)
That failure to land Semenyo has also been heightened by the loss of Patrick Dorgu to a ten-week spell on the sidelines, with that left-wing berth still a problematic area for the Red Devils.
Antoine Semenyo's record against Man Utd
Last month's convincing 2-0 win over City was made all the sweeter by seeing Semenyo lining up on the losing side, with the former Bristol City winger notably bypassed by Kobbie Mainoo in one of many delightful moments on that sunny afternoon at Old Trafford.
That said, a muted Semenyo performance at the Theatre of Dreams is a rare sight, with the fleet-footed speedster having dazzled against Amorim's side just a matter of weeks earlier, drawing the Cherries level in the first half of that 4-4 thriller.
United had been comfortable in the early knockings, racing into a deserved 1-0 lead, although as he so often does, the wideman sparked his side into life, pouncing on a home defensive mistake and surging into the penalty area to score.
Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo celebrates scoring their first goal
That marked the third time Semenyo had scored against the Red Devils in just four meetings at that stage, with Fulham the only team he has netted more times against, with five in eight against the Cottagers in all competitions.
Indeed, City's newest star had previously scored in Bournemouth's thumping 3-0 win over United in December 2024, before netting again in the late-season meeting at the Vitality Stadium, as the away side rescued a point at the death through Rasmus Hojlund.
Semenyo - Favourite PL opponents
Opponent
Fulham
Man Utd
Liverpool
Burnley
Spurs
Wolves
Forest
Leicester
Luton
Leeds
Time and again, and not just against the Manchester side, Semenyo has proven why he would have been a worthwhile addition, not least with United only recently discarding a string of left-wingers, namely Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho.
Dorgu, upon his return from injury, might have earned that role following his fine recent form, although Michael Carrick and co could also look to Carrington to find their own answer to Semenyo.
Man Utd might already have Semenyo 2.0 at Carrington
The recent breakthrough academy graduate at Old Trafford has been Shea Lacey on the right flank, while supporters are eagerly awaiting the eventual debut of 15-year-old, JJ Gabriel, an outrageously talented teen who can operate all across the frontline.
A first senior outing for the reported Barcelona target will have to wait, however, although if United are in need of a more instant, Semenyo-style solution, then Samuel Lusale could be Carrick's man.
Still only 18 himself, the former Crystal Palace starlet arrived in Manchester in the summer of 2024, with that deal for the England-born, Slovakia international representing a real coup for the INEOS regime.
Much of the focus at the time might have been the parallel capture of Chido Obi from Arsenal, but as one United analyst has noted, Lusale is a real talent in his own right, "hailed as one of the brightest talents in Europe".
Also described as an "explosive winger" who is a "nightmare for defenders" on either flank, amid comparisons to both Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, it is easy to see why the teenager could be United's own Semenyo in the making.
lamine-yamal-barcelona
Indeed, watching him in action at youth level for both club and country provides a real indication of what he's all about, possessing that lightening-quick, Semenyo-style speed to beat his man out wide.
Comfortable on either wing, like the London-born, Ghana international, Lusale's key attribute is his dribbling prowess and directness, regularly seen tearing into the box and cutting in onto his favoured right foot.
Most importantly too, there is an end product to match, with the winger's ten U18 Premier League appearances this season seeing him record two goals and four assists.
In all, his 28 games at that age group have seen him rack up nine goals and assists, notably starring off the bench in last season's FA Youth Cup semi-final win over Arsenal.
Dorgu
Jumping up to the first team might appear a risk, considering his U21 involvement has been limited thus far, yet with United crying out for depth on the left flank in the absence of Dorgu, and with Lacey and Bendito Mantato more suited to the right, then Lusale could be a perfect solution.
This might be an era of desperation for big transfers and extensive spending, but as it so often does, Carrington might have the player the first-team are looking for.
benjamin-sesko-man-utd Related
11 years after leaving, Man Utd star is now looking way better than Sesko
A figure of Manchester United's distant past has upstaged Benjamin Sesko this season.