Weghorst blocks Man Utd from signing midfielder on loan

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 16 Jan 2023 22:47 GMT
• 4 min read

Manchester United will not sign any loan target from the Premier League this month.

The Red Devils are banned from adding another domestic loanee due to Premier League rules.

Reports have suggested that Erik ten Hag’s side only have enough funds to search the loan market this January - though we understand they will move for a right-back should Aaron Wan-Bissaka depart.

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Man Utd - who are looking to fulfil the central midfield position on a temporary basis - have been linked to the likes of Youri Tielemans, whose contract at Leicester City is up in the summer, but any sort of loan would be out of the question given that they already have Jack Butland (Crystal Palace) and Wout Weghorst (Burnley) on their books.

The Premier League handbook states: ‘There are restrictions on how many players Premier League clubs can loan from other Premier League/English clubs’ and that ‘Premier League clubs may not register more than two players on loan at any one time.’

It means that the club are unable to bring in a third player from any English side until either Butland or Weghorst are shipped back to their respective clubs.

However, Man Utd can still look to the rest of Europe to bring in some talent - the same rules do not apply to anyone they have an interest in outside the English leagues.

The side have been linked to Enzo Fernandez of Benfica, but it looks like he will remain with his club current for the time being.

Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot could well be another viable option for the club, as well as Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, reports suggest.

Man Utd’s summer transfer plans

Man Utd will wait until the summer window to open to begin their big spending. Sources have told us they wish to bring in a world-class central midfielder into the fold at this point.

Declan Rice is on the list, as is Frenkie de Jong, who remains a long-term target of Ten Hag.

For the most part, though, money is tight and the hope is that the side have enough to squeeze out of their current squad to make a top-four finish this season.