Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Man Utd ‘prone to changing their minds’, as source reveals club refusing to rule out major January signing

Erik ten Hag, Steve McClaren of Man Utd, August 2022

Manchester United are not currently planning to sign an attacking player in January, but could reportedly make a transfer U-turn.

United added Antony to their front line in the recent summer market for a headline-grabbing £84million fee. They had initially hoped to sign the Brazilian for cheaper but eventually bowed to Ajax’s demands.

In the same way, Man Utd did not hesitate to spend £70million on Casemiro following frustration over Frenkie de Jong.

Throwing it forward to the upcoming transfer windows, United have a few priorities in mind. Their goalkeeping situation is uncertain and they are also looking to replace 37-year-old forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed how United turned down the opportunity to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen for a club-record fee in the summer. They instead went for Antony as their priority.

As for further attacking signings in January, the Manchester Evening News claims that United have not made any such plans. However, reporter Samuel Luckhurst admitted that the Red Devils have changed their mind on occasion.

“It’ll be interesting to see how the market shifts after a winter World Cup,” Luckhurst said in a Q&A session.

“The timing of it (not as scandalous as making Qatar the host nation) is bound to make January business off-putting for some clubs if a player performs in Qatar.

“United won’t rule out moving for a forward in January at this stage as there is a lot of club football to be played between now and January 1 and even into January they are prone to changing their minds.

“There would have to be some major issues for them to spend big again after a record summer, though.”

Man Utd have recent January striker history

United changed their minds on an attacking January signing in the winter window of 2020.

Marcus Rashford was their man up front and in form, but he suffered a back injury in mid-January which kept him out for at least two months.

As a result, Man Utd swooped for Odion Ighalo. While not a sizeable investment, it was definitely a change of approach.

United also changed their strategy in the summer 2020 window to eventually bring in Edinson Cavani late into the window.

They chased then-Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho – who they signed a year later – all summer long but eventually postponed talks. And Uruguay star Cavani was the subsequent arrival.

Red Devils need to strike balance

United clearly need to find a new long-term striker to take them through a number of seasons and score goals.

Just as Liverpool signed Darwin Nunez and Manchester City added Erling Haaland, Man Utd need to do similar.

Rashford is back in a decent vein of form, but he is nowhere near his best and consistency has been an issue. He can play as a striker, but there is an ongoing debate about his use out wide and what he is best at.

Anthony Martial is another United striker option, but he looks out of the running in manager Erik ten Hag’s plans.

Sancho and Antony are winger options, with Anthony Elanga another exciting candidate.

However, the Red Devils need to strike a balance. Rashford can clearly be an excellent striker option if his manager goes full steam ahead with that side of his game.

The club therefore need to carefully consider their options for signing a new goalscorer.