Man Utd’s January transfer window plan emerges as Ruben Amorim set clear target

Manchester United have been linked with a move for Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson or Carlos Baleba in the January transfer window and Ruben Amorim now has an answer from above

Manchester United chiefs are reportedly determined not to splash the cash in the January transfer window. United are planning for the mid-season window after three successive wins and are convinced major recruitment isn’t needed for Ruben Amorim to continue their upward trajectory.

Amorim is enjoying the best period of his year in charge of United following the 4-2 win over Brighton on Saturday. The team now sit sixth in the Premier League table, a point above rivals Liverpool, who they beat 2-1 the previous weekend.

Things are beginning to click for summer signings Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, but there have been suggestions that United need to invest further in the next transfer window. While £200million was spent on attacking reinforcements in the summer, United missed out on midfield additions.

Amorim has fielded Casemiro alongside Bruno Fernandes in central midfield in the past three games and the Portuguese manager wants new recruits. United reportedly have six names on a shortlist in midfield, including Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba.

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However, Sky Sports reports that United’s executives are determined to stick to their plan and not spend major money in January. They would prefer to wait until the end of the 2025/26 season to bring in a No.6 because the club will have longer to shift players then.

Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are said to be targeting a top-six finish in the Premier League this season. That would see United return to some form of European football, having missed out this season by finishing 15th and losing the Europa League final in 2024/25.

United are reportedly keen to keep things how they are in January, which means that Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee may be prevented from leaving. That is partly due to Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui’s potential involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations in the New Year.

United owners Ineos are reportedly quietly satisfied with the progress currently being made by Amorim and his coaching staff following another poor start to the season. With no European football, United have more time to prepare for each Premier League game and are now showing some consistency ahead of their game against Nottingham Forest this weekend.

“I think they are more confident,” Amorim said after the Brighton win. “I think the best game that we did this season was against Arsenal, was the first one. But then, when you are a little bit more confident, when you have a different spirit, sometimes you have a little bit [of] luck in certain moments of the game that help you to win games.

“Is that what I’m feeling now, that we are a little bit more free playing the game? And like last week, we have a little bit of luck because of that, because we are in the different spirit.”

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