Keep up to date with all the Manchester United transfer news and speculation ahead of the January transfer window.
United enjoyed a fruitful summer transfer window, with Erik ten Hag spending well in excess of £200m to reshape his squad.
United made a slow start to the new season, losing their first two games, including an embarrassing loss at Brentford, but an unexpected and most welcome win over Liverpool in Ten Hag’s third game kickstarted a vast improvement.
But they were brought back down to earth by a 6-3 defeat to Manchester City. And with thoughts turning towards the January window, we take a look at all the players United are being linked with and who the original source of the story is.
The summer transfer window officially closed at 11pm, Thursday 1 September, with this list featuring any transfer line with regards incomings and outgoing at Old Trafford since then…
Cristiano Ronaldo
The uncertainty surrounding Ronaldo’s future at Old Trafford was one of the biggest talking points during the summer transfer window.
After United only qualified for the Europa League, he made the Red Devils aware of his desire to add to his Champions League legacy at another club.
United initially insisted that they wanted to keep the 37-year-old but reports late in August suggested that they performed a U-turn and were open to a sale.
Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid all distanced themselves from a deal for Ronaldo, who ultimately ended up staying at Old Trafford. We’ve rounded up all the major news about the forward since the window shut.
– The Portugal international is targeting a January exit from United and Erik ten Hag will not stand in his way if a suitable offer arrives. (The Daily Telegraph, October 3).
– Ronaldo’s attitude has markedly improved since the window closed and he’s beginning to accept his new role at the club. He’s also taken Marcus Rashford under his wing by providing positional advice and helping finetune his game as a centre forward. (The Sun, September 25).
– Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal were prepared to offer Ronaldo £2m a week, but he turned them down. (Marca, September 15).
– Ronaldo’s massive wages meant that a move to the Bundesliga wasn’t possible during the summer window. (Mark Behrenbeck, September 13).
– The president of the Saudi Arabian FA has admitted he’d love to see Ronaldo play in the country. (The Atheltic, September 12).
– New Chelsea manager Graham Potter has taken a different stance to Thomas Tuchel and will make a January move for Ronaldo. (Fichajes, September 10).
– Tuchel’s decision to block the summer signing of Ronaldo is one of the factors behind his Chelsea sacking. (Guillem Balague, September 7).
– Napoli were heavily linked with a transfer for Ronaldo at the end of the transfer window, but their sporting director has now dampened those rumours.
“It is bad to extinguish the dreams of the fans, but there has never been a real negotiation,” Cristiano Giuntoli said. (Il Napolista, September 6).
Who have Man Utd been linked with?
Goalkeepers
Jan Oblak – United has shown a fervent interest in the Atletico Madrid goalkeeper in recent months. (AS, September 29).
– United have identified Oblak as a potential replacement for David de Gea and are willing to offer him a big-money contract. (Jeunes Footeux, September 14).
Emiliano Martinez – United are keeping close tabs on the Aston Villa goalkeeper, who is highly rated by their recruitment team. (Football Insider, September 26).
Jordan Pickford – United could look to sign a new long-term goalkeeping option in 2023 and Everton’s No.1 is on their radar. (Daily Telegraph, September 24).
Defenders
Pau Torres – Erik ten Hag still wants to improve United’s defence and they will look to sign Torres from Villarreal in 2023. (La Razon, September 27).
Jurrien Timber – United are set to reignite their interest in Timber in 2023 but will face competition from Roma and Bayern Munich. (Calciomercato, September 27).
Kim Min-jae – There is a growing fear at Napoli that United are planning a move for Min-jae. (Napoli Piu, September 27).
– United have been impressed by the Napoli defender and are prepared to activate his release clause in January. (CNN Turkey, September 22).
Alessandro Bastoni – Alongside Tottenham and Manchester City, United are ready to test Inter’s resolve for the centre-back. (Gazzetta dello Sport, September 25).
Vanderson – The Red Devils are already in talks with the player’s agent ahead of a possible January move for the £52m (€60m) rated Brazilian. The Monaco full-back is also on Barcelona’s radar, with the LaLiga side making a summer enquiry. (Sport, September 21).
Santiago Arias – The former Atletico Madrid right-back reportedly has his ‘bags packed’ ahead of a free transfer to United. (Johnson Saenz, September 9).
Midfielders
Jude Bellingham – United are putting themselves at the front of that race for Bellingham’s signature and have the financial muscle to beat their rivals. (AS, October 2).
– The midfielder is is central to Erik ten Hag’s plans going forward and United will look to beat Liverpool to his signature. (ESPN, September 30).
– United director of football John Murtough has maintained a good relationship with Jude Bellingham’s father. (The Atheltic, September 21).
– United have a very good chance of signing Bellingham in 2023. (Florian Plettenberg, September 13).
Frenkie de Jong – Despite failing to sign De Jong in the summer, Erik ten Hag is adamant he can convince the midfielder to join United in 2023. (ESPN, September 30).
– Barcelona will try to sell De Jong once again when the January window opens. (Sport, September 11).
– United remain attentive to De Jong’s situation and could look to sign him again come the January window after he decided to stay at Barcelona. (Fabrizio Romano, September 6).
Sergej Milnkovic-Savic – Lazio have reportedly scheduled a meeting with Milinkovic-Savic and will discuss a contract extension. But they aren’t very optimistic and United are a ‘possible destination’ for the midfielder. (Gazzetta dello Sport, September 23).
Youri Tielemans – Erik ten Hag wants midfield reinforcements in January and has identified Leicester’s Tielemans as a top target. (Fichajes, September 17).
Joao Gomes – United are set to rival Liverpool for the Flamengo midfielder and could make an offer for him in January. (Liverpool Echo, September 17).
Forwards
Cody Gakpo – After backing out of a deal for Gakpo in the summer, United are planning a fresh approach for him in the January transfer window and will make a take-it-or-leave-it offer. (Football Insider, October 1).
– United are highly likely to pursue the PSV winger once again in 2023. (Forbes, September 27).
Goncalo Ramos – United are planning on making a £25m bid for the Benfica striker but will face competition from Bayern Munich and Newcastle. (The Sun, September 20).
Hirving Lozano – United are interested in Lozano, who is unhappy in Napoli and is looking for an exit as early as January. (Marca, September 29).
Kylian Mbappe – Alongside Liverpool and Chelsea, United are transfer options for Mbappe when he deicdes to leave PSG. (Marca, September 14).
Brian Brobbey – United are reportedly putting the groundwork in for yet another raid on Ajax with Brobbey confirming he’s held talks with Erik ten Hag. (ESPN.nl, September 6).
Who has been linked with a move away from Man Utd?
Anthony Martial – Sevilla and Valencia are both interested in the forward, who wants to relaunch his career away from Old Trafford. (Fichajes, October 3).
Donny van de Beek – The Netherlands international has been deemed surplus to requirements and could move on in January. (Pete O’Rourke, October 1).
– Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi wants to sign Van de Beek in January. (Fichajes, September 15).
Diogo Dalot – Juventus and AC Milan are both looking to sign the Portugal international. (Calciomercato, October 1).
– Roma are considering making an offer for Dalot in the summer of 2023. (Corriere dello Sport, September 2023).
– The right-back has enjoyed an impressive start to the season and is now at the top of Xavi’s transfer shortlist at Barcelona. (Fichajes, September 16).
David de Gea – De Gea fears that his time at United is coming to an end and is pushing his representatives to arrange a meeting with Erik ten Hag to determine his long-term future. (Daily Star, September 30).
– Juventus hope to sign the goalkeeper on a free transfer once his United contract expires next summer. (Calciomercato, September 26).
– De Gea has less than a year left on his contract and United are still unsure whether to activate the season-long extension for the 31-year-old. (Daily Telegraph, September 24).
Marcus Rashford – Atletico Madrid want a new forward and are keen on signing Rashford. (Fichajes, September 19).
– Chelsea and Atletico Madrid are both monitoring Rashford’s contract situation at United and will make a move if he fails to reach an agreement on a new deal. (Calciomercato, September 10).
Victor Lindelof – Roma are expected to contact United and Lindelof’s agent over a potential move in January. (Rudy Galetti, September 16).
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – United could reconsider their decision not to sell the right-back during the January transfer window. Crystal Palace and West Ham will probably make new proposals. (The Athletic, September 14).
Contract updates
Diogo Dalot – United hope to tie Dalot down to a long-term extension and there is a good relationship between the player and the club. (Fabrizio Romano, September 27).
– United are looking to reward Dalot’s improved performances with a new long-term contract. (90min, September 22).
Marcus Rashford – The Red Devils are hopeful of securing Rashford to a new long-term contract with the club in the coming months. (90min, September 22).
– United are ready to open new contract talks with Rashford following his incredible start to the season. PSG were mentioned as suitors over the summer but a new five-year deal is being prepped by the club to keep him at Old Trafford until 2027. (The Sun, September, 8).
Not happening
Emiliano Martinez – Villa will reject all offers for their goalkeeper in the January transfer window. (Football Insider, September 29).
Antoine Griezmann – Griezmann is focused on Atletico Madrid and nothing is happening with any other clubs. (Fabrizio Romano, September 19).
Moises Caicedo – Brighton want to fend off interest in Caicedo and are set to begin talks to improve his contract. (Daily Mirror, September 11).
Gavi – United have been keeping tabs on Gavi’s contract situation, but he looks set to commit his future to the Spanish club and his new contract will have an £868million release clause. (Mundo Deportivo, September 9).
Sergej Milnkovic-Savic – The Lazio midfielder was linked with United in the summer but they ultimately signed Casemiro instead. He’s since confirmed that he’s happy at the Serie A side and isn’t thinking about a potential transfer. (Football Italia, September 8).
Summer transfer window review
Manuel Locatelli – United tried to sign the Juventus midfielder in the summer, but he ‘politely declined’ the Red Devils. (Calciomercato, October 3).
Marcus Rashford – Kylian Mbappe wanted Paris Saint-Germain to sign Rashford during the summer transfer window. (RMC Sport, October 2).
Marko Arnautovic – Bologna director of football Marco Di Vaio has insisted that Arnautovic didn’t join United because he didn’t want to leave the Serie A side. (Corriere dello Sport, September 29).
Victor Osimhen – United were offered the chance to sign Osimhen towards the end of the window but Erik ten Hag prioritised Antony. (Fabrizio Romano, September 29).
Presnel Kimpembe – The defender was on United’s radar during the summer window but Paris Saint-Germain insisted he wasn’t for sale. (Le10 Sport, September 28).
Manuel Akanji – United considered a move for the centre-back but it didn’t happen because he was mainly admired by Ralf Rangnick, who left his position at Old Trafford. (Fabrizio Romano, September 27).
Frenkie de Jong – The midfielder has revealed that he wanted to stay at Barcelona throughout the summer transfer window. (September 21)
– United’s summer-long chase for De Jong ended in disappointment, and Red Devils director of football John Murtough privately admits they should have walked away from the deal a lot earlier. (ESPN, September 3).
Antoine Griezmann – United were one of a number of Premier League clubs to inquire about Griezmann during last summer’s transfer window. (The Athletic, September 18).
Cody Gakpo – United agreed personal terms with the PSV winger but decided against making a bid after spending £85million on Antony. (The Athletic, September 15).
Paulo Dybala – United tried to sign Dybala on a free transfer after he left Juventus at the end of last season, but the forward decided to join Roma instead. (Calciomercato, September 13).
Daniel Bachmann – The Watford goalkeeper has admitted he held talks with United before they decided to sign Martin Dubravka from Newcastle. (LAOLA1, September 13).
Moises Caicedo – United were the only club interested in Caicedo in the summer and they viewed him as a potential option before signing Casemiro. (Fabrizio Romano, September 12).
Joao Felix – United reportedly made a €130million bid for Felix in the summer but the Atletico Madrid forward has revealed that he was not aware of any interest in him from the Red Devils. (Marca, September 10).
Paul Pogba – Manchester City explored the possibility of signing Pogba this summer as his contract at United wound down. But he wanted to call time on his spell in the Premier League and ultimately opted for Juventus. (Fabrizio Romano, Here We Go podcast, September 7).
Antony – The Brazilian went on an Instagram rant after a row broke about between two rival agencies, who both claimed they were responsible for negotiating his record-breaking £85.5million move from Ajax to United. (Daily Telegraph, September 7).
Marco Asensio – Florentino Perez reportedly called United to offer them Asensio, but Erik ten Hag gave the idea short shrift and remained fully focused on reuniting with Antony. (El Nacional, September 5).
Cody Gakpo – Former United manager Louis van Gaal made sure PSV winger Gakpo didn’t join United during the summer window. (PSV TV, September 3).
Christian Eriksen – A fresh report has revealed how United pulled out all the stops to beat Tottenham to the signing of Eriksen. They offered him a staggering deal worth £200,000-a-week, as well as a £12million signing-on fee – far in excess of what Spurs were willing to pay. (Football Insider, September 3).
James Garner – The United academy graduate joined Everton on deadline day and it’s been revealed why Erik ten Hag decided to cash in. (The Athletic, September 3).
Raul de Tomas – United made a late play to sign the Espanyol striker on deadline day, a report claims. United chiefs pushed to sign him but didn’t have enough time for the deal to reach completion. (Football Insider, September 2).
