Manchester United will look to strengthen
their squad in January after a poor campaign so far, although a lot will depend
on the timeline of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recruitment shake-up.
Ratcliffe purchased 25% of United for around £1.4billion
in a move which would see the billionaire gain control of the club’s
footballing operations.
The deal was formalized on Christmas Eve but it's not
clear how much Ratcliffe will have in place for the January window, with United
believed to be searching for a centre back, a defensive midfielder, a number 8,
a right winger and a striker.
While it is unlikely they will be able to target all
their problem positions in one month, particularly with a focus also set to be
on outgoings, Football Transfers takes a look at five players who could move to
Old Trafford in January.
Jean-Clair Todibo (Nice)
United have been inconsistent in defence this season
despite only four teams conceding less goals than them in the league, with
injuries ravishing their backline throughout the season.
Erik ten Hag had been desperate to sign a centre back in
the summer but the club were unable to raise funds after Harry Maguire rejected a move to West Ham and,
while the England international has regained his place in the team, injuries to
Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez means defence is still a
high priority for United.
Jean-Clair Todibo was at the top of United’s
shortlist in the summer and the Nice defender
is still well-liked at Old Trafford, with a move even more feasible if
Ratcliffe comes in due to his ownership of the French side.
Kenneth Taylor (Ajax)
Ten Hag is no stranger to Ajax players
and the Dutchman could return to his former club once again to sign Kenneth Taylor, with the 21-year-old believed to
have been extensively scouted by United.
Taylor has been integral to Ajax since last season, when
he grabbed eight goals and three assists from defensive midfield, and he would
be willing to leave Ajax with the Dutch side sitting ninth in the Eredivisie.
United have been looking for a defensive-minded
midfielder with Casemiro injured
and out of form, while Sofyan Amrabat has struggled to adapt to
English football since his loan move in the summer.
Andre (Fluminense)
Another summer arrival who has had a slow start to life
at Old Trafford is Mason Mount, with the £60 million signing from Chelsea having
yet to provide a goal or assist and missing a large part of the season through
injury.
Mount was touted as the perfect number eight for Ten
Hag’s team but his problems have left United lacking energy in midfield and in
the market for an alternative, with Fluminense’s Andre having been scouted
extensively in recent months.
Andre has long been linked with a move to the Premier
League, having been a target for Liverpool in the summer, and Fluminense are
resigned to losing their star midfielder in January after winning the Copa
Libertadores, with a fee of £30 million likely to grab their attention.
Brian Brobbey (Ajax)
A long-term target of Ten Hag, Brian Brobbey remains high
on United's shortlist and reports have claimed that the club will attempt to
try and sign the Ajax youngster this month after an impressive start to the
season.
Brobbey played under Ten Hag at Ajax and has netted nine
times in 16 league games this season, having turned down a move to United in
2022.
United are still believed to be in contact with Brobbey
while the player and Ten Hag both hold each other in high esteem and a transfer
will certainly be considered in the summer if it is not possible this month.
Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad)
Karim Benzema's future in Saudi Arabia is already
uncertain after just a few months in the nation and there has been speculation
the veteran could end up leaving the club on loan this winter.
The likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid have been linked to
the Frenchman but United could see Benzema as a stopgap of experience until the
summer when they can spend properly to get an alternative to Rasmus Hojlund.
Al-Ittihad have shown no desire to loan out Benzema and
still see the Ballon d'Or winner as an integral part of their sporting project
but if the 36-year-old does push for an exit, a move to United will surely be
high on his wish list.
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