Transfer Window Preview: Manchester United
What will Manchester United do during the January transfer window to help them win a trophy?
By Felix Short 
| January 1, 2022, 7:30 AM EST
Will Jadon Sancho's Injury Force United to Change Their Transfer Window Plans? (Michael Bradley/Manchester Guardian)
Manchester, England – Manchester United enters the new year in third place in the Premier League, within striking distance of league leaders Liverpool, in the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League, with a promising outlook on advancing, and with a team that is seemingly improving under first-year manager Thomas Walker. Things look bright for United after an impressive December that saw them win seven of nine games and move up into the Champions League qualifying zone in the league table. But now, as the calendar turns to 2022, the Transfer Window is open, and it’s fair to wonder if United will be heavy players in the market. Let’s take a look at what United may be thinking:
New Signings
With a deep Champions League run on the table and a chance at the Premier League title, Manchester United may be in the hunt to add the type of talent that could carry them to a major trophy this season. Entering the campaign, United had concerns at the holding midfielder position, but those have seemingly been answered by the improvements of Fred and Scott McTominay in recent months. Thomas Walker has reportedly been less than thrilled with the options at center-back, but with four legitimate options, making four legitimate wages, it seems unlikely that United will add a center-back without jettisoning one off.
Instead, they may find they have a more demanding need for an attacking player. Last summer they spent big to bring Jadon Sancho to Old Trafford in the hopes that he would solve their concerns on the wing for the next several years. Sancho failed to make the huge impact that was expected of him, but worse, he also found himself with a torn ACL that will keep him out for the rest of the season. The emergence of teenagers Amad, Anthony Elanga and Hannibal Mejbri do lighten the need to add an attacking player, but Anthony Elanga’s recent shoulder injury has shown United just how perilously thin they are in attack. Behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford, United will be relying on a lot of inexperienced players to close out this season. Perhaps adding a player this month that can, at the very least, bolster their depth would be prudent.
Departures
For all the concern over the lack of depth up front, United do have some veterans that are struggling to get minutes. Perhaps none is more obvious than the 33-year-old Juan Mata. The former Chelsea and Spain star has reached the later years of his career and doesn’t have the obvious fit that Thomas Walker is looking for. He’s only made one appearance this season and has on multiple occasions made it known that he isn’t happy with his situation. Mata is one to watch closely, as his contract extends until the summer of 2023, and he may be looking to get out now.
Dean Henderson is another player who seemingly could be on the move. This was supposed to be the season that Henderson emerged as United’s top keeper, but instead Walker has gone with David De Gea for every meaningful minute. Henderson and United seem to be at crossroads and a decision on Henderson’s future seems certain to come soon. Whether Henderson remains as United second stringer until the summer, or he moves to a club in desperate need for a goalkeeper now, is something to keep an eye on this transfer window.
Other players who could be looking for bigger roles elsewhere are Donny van de Beek, Phil Jones, Nemanja Matić, and Diogo Dalot. van de Beek and Dalot are both players that other teams may take an interest in as young, up-and-comers who have seemingly failed to impress at United, but who were impressive enough in previous stops. Jones and Matić are established veterans who may just need a new opportunity.
Loans
Manchester United has eleven players on loan in England, Spain, Scotland and Italy. Will United recall any of them in order to help with their depth concerns on the wing? Tahith Chong at Birmingham City and Facundo Pellistri at Alavés are both players that could come in and give them minutes in attack. Giving the opportunity to one of those players may be able to save United a healthy transfer sum.
On the other hand, there are a number of younger talents that seem ready to make the jump out of the academy and into senior-level soccer. D’Mani Mellor, Shola Shoretire, Zidane Iqbal, Charlie Savage, and Reece Devine are all youngsters that seem to be ready for the next step. Can Manchester United find them a healthy opportunity for them to continue their development? That is something to keep an eye on this month.
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