Man Utd's January transfer plans revealed

FT Desk

• 3 Nov 2022 08:00 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United have been linked with moves for Frenkie de Jong, Jude Bellingham and many others this season, but their January transfer plans could come as a surprise…

United are some of the biggest spenders in world football, and this summer dropped around €240 million bringing the likes of Antony, Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez to the club.

The futures of Portuguese pair Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Dalot remain uncertain, meanwhile, for radically different reasons.

READ: Cristiano Ronaldo: Man Utd’s January transfer expectations for striker revealed

The former has been restricted to the bench for much of the campaign as run-ins with manager Erik ten Hag have become increasingly more public; but the latter has become undisputed first-choice at right-back, but is out of contract at the end of the season.

But according to the Manchester Evening News' chief Man Utd writer Samuel Luckhurst, 'Stage 2' of the Red Devils' rebuild will be pushed back to next summer.

"Manchester United are not actively pursuing any incomings in the January transfer window as they approach the final week of the season before the World Cup begins," he writes.

READ: Revealed: Jorge Mendes plans to take Diogo Dalot to Barcelona

"A goalscorer has already been identified as United's priority position next year and a right-back is likely to be targeted as manager Erik ten Hag was keen on reinforcing that area in the summer."

Portuguese positions

A goalscorer and right-back are the two positions relevant to Ronaldo and Dalot. Ronaldo could be used as a makeweight with Atletico Madrid as the Old Trafford club looks to drive down Joao Felix's asking price.

With Dalot, United have an option to extend his contract by another season - even if agent Jorge Mendes is trying to talk up a move to Barcelona. If Dalot were to leave, the club have an option to recall young right-back Ethan Laird from his loan at QPR.

What is clear, though, is that this winter will be one of evolution, not revolution, at United.