This winter transfer window has seen movement both in and out of Old Trafford, as Manchester United brace themselves for the rest of the season and a fight up the English Premier League table.
It was the first window of the Ruben Amorim era as United looked to shape the squad in the Portuguese head coach’s image.
As usual, there were plenty of rumoured ins and out of Old Trafford, with the biggest story surrounding what would happen with the future of Marcus Rashford.
Having recruited and sold poorly in numerous previous transfer windows, fans and observers were keen to see how Man Utd would approach this window.
With the window now closed, let’s take a look at United’s plans for the transfer window and how it all played out.
Manchester United’s January priorities
Heading into the January transfer window, two positions were at the forefront of United’s plans, a left-wing-back and a striker.
Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee are failing to hit the back of the net consistently, with a combined 11 goals so far this season.
Needless to say, Ruben Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 system with two attacking midfielders or shadow strikers feeding into a solo striker up top requires a clinical finisher to convert chances.
At Sporting Lisbon, Amorim managed to develop Viktor Gyokeres into just that, with the prolific goalscorer being one of the most in form strikers in world football at this time.
In defence, the club have been desperate for a left-back for over a year with Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw consistently in the treatment room through injury.
While the club failed to sign a replacement for Shaw or Malacia in the summer, it was a clear priority this winter window as the makeshift left-back Diogo Dalot hasn’t been able to replicate his performances on the left hand side comparable to the right hand side of defence.
However, there was one more priority for the window, make sales to generate funds.
Despite needing a new left-wing-back and striker, there was no allocation of funding to do so, needing to offload stars before more can join.
So, how did United fair compared to their priorities?
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How Manchester United acted on their January priorities
Signings
Despite only needing to sign two different positions, only one was recruited to.
United focused heavily on recruiting to the left-wing-back role, signing Patrick Dorgu from Serie A side Lecce for £25 million with £4 million in add-ons.
The Danish international is set to become the first-choice left wing back, with his versatility in both defensive and in attacking play a key driver to Amorim’s desire to sign the 20-year-old.
Alongside him, ready to develop for a future class of Red Devils, Diego Leon signed his pre-contract to move to United after his 18th birthday from Paraguayan side Cerro Porteno.
Another youngster to join the club, rounding off United’s signings was Ayden Heaven, the 18-year-old centre-back from Arsenal.
Whilst the compensation fee for the transfer is currently disclosed, the youngster is seen as an addition to the senior squad and could make his debut in the coming weeks, especially with Lisandro Martinez ruled out long term.
So, the club successfully met their target in defence, however failed with signing a striker.
Despite being linked with the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Mathys Tel and Victor Osimhen, the club failed to bring in a new striker, adding more pressure to Hojlund and Zirkzee to find their form.
However, United have reportedly been happy with their approach, refusing to overpay on players, especially stars who are as of yet, relatively unproven.
Departures
Unfortunately, looking to their other priority, The Red Devils also failed to make any high profile sales this month.
At one point it looked as though both Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho could depart for significant fees, all constituting as pure profit with the duo having come through the United academy.
Ultimately Garnacho has remained at the club (a move that will no doubt please most United fans) whilst Rashford has left on loan for Aston Villa, with The Villains holding a £40 million option to buy at the end of the season and covering 70% of his £325,000 per week salary.
Equally Antony has also departed for the remainder of the season, joining LaLiga squad Real Betis and Tyrell Malacia has joined PSV Eindhoven also on loan.
However, United have also made a massive push to send out a whole host of youngsters on loan to develop further by getting more match experience.
Set for League Two, Ethan Ennis has joined Doncaster Rovers, Joe Hugill is now with Carlisle, Sam Mather and Louis Jackson have both joined Tranmere Rovers, Ethan Wheatley is now with Walsall and Ethan Williams in now with Cheltenham Town.
Elsewhere Dan Gore is set for League One action with Rotherham, whilst Jack Kingdon is with National League side Rochdale.
The only permanent departure this month was Ruben Curley, with the 19-year-old midfielder joining Stoke City.
Overall the club have made a massive push in loaning out stars to either kick-start their career ready for future sales or for development of younger players with a total of eleven loan deals being agreed.
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What we can expect for the summer transfer window
Already it’s been reported that the financial limits felt by Manchester United through the January transfer window are once more going to be felt in the summer, with another push to make sales.
However, unless Hojlund and Zirkzee can find their feet and become more consistent in front of goal, a new striker has to be an essential summer signing for The Red Devils.
Unfortunately for the club, as happens every summer, some of their stars will be leaving as free transfers, having failed to sell players like Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton, with all four having less than 6 months left on their deals at Manchester United.
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Full list of Manchester United January 2025 transfer activity
In
- Ayden Heaven – Arsenal (Permanent)
- Patrick Dorgu – Lecce (Permanent)
- Diego Leon – Cerro Porteno (Pre-contract for summer move)
Out
- Marcus Rashford – Aston Villa (Loan with buy option)
- Antony – Real Betis (Loan)
- Tyrell Malacia – PSV Eindhoven (Loan)
- Dan Gore – Rotherham (Loan)
- Ethan Ennis – Doncaster Rovers (Loan)
- Joe Hugill – Carlisle United (Loan)
- Ethan Wheatley – Walsall (Loan)
- Jack Kingdon – Rochdale (Loan)
- Ethan Williams – Cheltenham Town (Loan)
- Ruben Curley – Stoke City (Permanent)
- Sam Mather – Tranmere Rovers (Loan)
- Louis Jackson – Tranmere Rovers (Loan)
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Source: Centred Devils
