One Manchester United player could be forced to stay until the summer as Jason Wilcox has blocked a January transfer attempt.
Manchester United could be set for a very busy January transfer window, especially if Rúben Amorim’s side continues to struggle. With only two wins in the last five Premier League games, United could head to the transfer market.
While United have scored four goals on more than one occasion in the last five, a new centre-forward could be one of the main targets for Jason Wilcox and the transfer team. They have already been strongly linked with one Premier League forward.
However, Amorim is currently without several first-team players. Amad, Noussair Mazraoui and Bryan Mbeumo are away at the African Cup of Nations, while Matthijs de Ligt, Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount are all out injured.
Any January transfers must not restrict the playing time of those currently out of the squad, as they are among the best players at the club, so outgoings may also be a focus for the transfer team.
Some young players could leave on loan, while Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee also appear hungry for a move away. They will want to play regular football before the World Cup at the end of the season.
Wilcox blocks Ugarte transfer
Manuel Ugarte is another player “struggling” for regular minutes at Old Trafford. But when he does play, he isn’t usually of the required standard to compete for the Europa League or Champions League spots in the Premier League.
The former PSG midfielder has been forced into the team recently, with no Fernandes or Mainoo in the matchday squads, and has struggled alongside Casemiro. Before Mount’s fitness issues were known, many fans were calling for young Jack Fletcher to start ahead of the Uruguayan against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
While a move away from Old Trafford appears the best solution for all parties, TeamTALK have reported that Wilcox has blocked an incoming offer for Ugarte from Galatasaray.
Galatasaray had reportedly advanced talks in recent weeks, with Lucas Torreira and Fernando Muslera in contact with Ugarte regularly, but Wilcox has blocked the move for the January window.
A transfer in the January window is seen as ‘not possible’, but if the Turkish side were to offer close to the £45 million United paid PSG in 2024, then there would be a ‘chance’ of a deal in the winter window.
Mainoo’s future up in the air
With Ugarte set to stay at the club until the summer, Mainoo could be set for the loan move he was desperate for at the end of the last summer transfer window.
However, even if Ugarte does stay, Amorim has to make a decision about his squad depth. Toby Collyer has been recalled from West Brom, but has already been linked with another loan move, and many fans feel Jack Fletcher could be best suited to a loan move too.
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If both youngsters leave Old Trafford for the second half of the season, Amorim will be forced into promoting Sékou Koné or one of the other young midfielders or keeping Mainoo.
Many managers would allow Mainoo to leave on loan – although many would also find a way for him to start – but Amorim is not your typical manager. Mainoo could be forced into another six months of little football if Amorim has his way.
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