Man United saw several big-name players linked in January.placeholder image
Man United saw several big-name players linked in January. | Getty Images
Man United could have made some huge January signings - but were left empty-handed.
With the January transfer window now closed, Manchester United may be forced to look back with a hint of regret if they do not reach their targets come the end of the season.
The Red Devils failed to make a single signing over the window, only loaning out youth-team stars amidst managerial change behind the scenes as Ruben Amorim was sacked at the beginning of the month, Darren Fletcher had a brief stint as interim head coach before Michael Carrick arrived until the end of the season.
United are battling hard for a top four place in the Premier League and bought smartly last summer, with Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha appearing to be particularly strong signings while Benjamin Sesko is beginning to show hints of why he was signed for a massive £73.7 million from RB Leipzig.
United were linked with several high-profile signings in the winter window, though, and may have solved some of the issues faced by Carrick’s squad at present if things had been different.
Players Man Utd could have signed in January after £64m and £87m forwards linked
The biggest transfer to take place in the Premier League in January, United could have signed Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo before he ended up at their bitter rivals Manchester City instead in a £64m deal.
United’s interest in Semenyo was heavily reported, with the eventual belief being that the Ghanaian had a choice between the Manchester clubs and Tottenham as Liverpool did not step up their interest. He chose City and a title race above the United rebuild, and probably the Red Devils’ biggest target of the window had got away.
With their No.1 winger target securing a move elsewhere early on in the window, United were touted as holding an interest in Leipzig and Ivory Coast star Yan Diomande, tabling a formal offer according reports. But with the player away at AFCON at the time and the Bundesliga side demanding a colossal £87m fee to sign him mid-season, a move never appeared to get off the ground. Maybe in years gone by, United may have been able to persuade the player to push for a move to Old Trafford. But it appears as though the 19-year-old’s future will become a topic of conversation again in the summer.
The Red Devils were not done there as they continued to target some of Europe’s brightest teenage forward talents. According to reports by The Guardian’s Ed Aarons breaking late in the window, United “considered stepping up their interest” in Stade Rennais striker Kader Meïté ahead of the deadline. But they were beaten to the punch by Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in a £25.9m “statement of intent” as per BBC Sport, coming as a blow to the Red Devils.
Midfield and full-back other positions of concern - but nothing materialised
Probably the biggest area of the field to be targeted by United in 2026 is the midfield, and the Red Devils were linked with swoops for multiple Premier League midfielders in January. While a big-money transfer for Elliot Anderson or Adam Wharton was always more likely to take place in the summer, and the likes of Leon Goretzka will also be available on a free transfer at the end of the campaign, the 13-time Premier League champions still looked to strengthen in mid-season but were left empty-handed.
Wolves’ Joao Gomes was one player who had been linked with United for several months, reportedly available for around £44m. But Gomes stayed put at Molineux and might move in the summer instead. Everton star James Garner, meanwhile, emerged as a surprise option to return to his former club just over three years after departing Old Trafford permanently. But the 24-year-old instead signed a new deal with the Toffees and committed his future at the club until 2030.
Carrick’s side were also linked with a full-back after in-form Patrick Dorgu picked up a hamstring injury which could see him spend up to 10 weeks on the side-lines. Eintracht Frankfurt star Nathaniel Brown was identified as a target and United sent scouts to watch him play in January according to TEAMtalk, but a £40m January bid did not materialise despite United’s current need in the position.
Alas, United saw Monday’s transfer deadline pass by with nothing to show for a month of frequent rumours and speculation. They may have felt it smart to keep their money in their pocket unless the perfect opportunity arose, but only time will tell whether or not they made the right choice to stay quiet.
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