Manchester United have not had a lot of success when it comes to securing players in the winter transfer window. Barring Bruno Fernandes, no other notable signing has stood out in recent years. Oh, how about Alexis Sanchez? Well, that was a true debacle.
Ralf Rangnick could only have this opportunity to get fresh players in the squad, given that he is on an interim contract that runs out in the summer. Ralf could use new faces in the squad if he is to make an immediate impact.
To top it off, he is set to acquire the consultancy role at the end of his contract, and his opinion on recruitment should carry more weight.
However, Ralf has admitted that January is not the ideal transfer window to recruit new players.
“From my experience, winter is not the best time for sustainable transfers and with the quality of players we have here, it would in theory only make sense if you can get players who can guarantee you more quality. From experience, this will be difficult in the winter.”
Let's dig right in to see what the 2022 winter transfer window has in store for Manchester United.
1) What's going on with Jesse Lingard?
Jesse Lingard enjoyed a successful second-half loan spell at West Ham last season. He returned to Old Trafford hoping to build on it. Sadly that has not been the case - with Ole Gunnar Solskjer and Ralf Rangnick. He has made 10 appearances in all competitions this season - eight of them being as a substitute!
There have been rumors that he might look to move away from Manchester United in the transfer window, but that's not the case either. Instead, he is looking to break his way into the team.
However, with just six months left on his contract, the English international is free to talk to other clubs starting next month. The ball is in his court.
2) Is Anthony Martial going to leave Manchester United?
Anthony Martial's case is rather difficult to assess, given the enormous salary he earns at Manchester United - £240,000/week. There have been inquiries from clubs regarding the player, but the main issue that stands is his wage.
Juventus, Barcelona and Sevilla have all shown interest in Martial. However, Juventus are not looking for a player of his caliber at the moment and Barcelona are close to signing Manchester City's Ferran Torres.
That leaves Sevilla, and it is believed that Martial would also prefer the move. However, the cost remains an issue for Sevilla as well as for Lyon. Martial cost around £60 million (including add-ons), and United would surely like to recoup as much as possible.
A loan move looks more likely at this stage, but he could well end up staying at Manchester United beyond January.
3) Any incomings for Manchester United?
We all know how difficult it is to get top players in the January transfer window. That being said, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are the two players Ralf admires. Also, a tall midfielder to replace Nemanja Matic.
West Ham won't budge from their £100 million valuation and are in no rush to sell. At the same time, United did try to sign Bellingham from Birmingham City. However, none of the players look set to make the switch to Old Trafford next month.
There have also been talks about Sergej Milinkovic-Savic falling out with his manager, Maurizio Sarri. This has led to rumors about the 26-year-old joining Manchester United next month. However, that doesn't seem to be the case either.
United also remain interested in Kieran Tripper. They did look at the Atletico Madrid full-back this summer to provide competition to Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka but decided against acting on it. Newcastle United are also looking at the English international.
Will he make the switch or play against United in the Champions League in February? That is yet to be seen.
4) What about the outgoings?
Manchester United do have some deadwood that they would like to clear. This has been one of the weak areas of the club. The most notable player to come to mind is Phil Jones. Having not played since January 2020, it would only make sense to move him away from the club.
Benfica have shown some interest, but his injury record has undoubtedly put off suitors.
Moving on, Barcelona have shown interest in Edinson Cavani, as per reports. However, no concrete talks have begun between the two clubs. United also prefer to keep the Uruguayan at Old Trafford until the end of his contract - summer 2022.
When it comes to Paul Pogba, there is no clarity. While the Red Devils expect Pogba to stay at least until the end of the season, the club would be open to selling him in January. This would happen if the French international confirms he has no interest in signing a new contract.
The French international has had a lucrative offer on the table for some time now. He is still assessing his options and is not rushing to sign a new contract. A move to Paris Saint-Germain, his homeland, in the summer is a possibility.