Manchester United’s Strategic Mid-Season Approach: A Focus on Summer Planning

Manchester United is not expected to make any new signings during the January transfer window, despite having the financial resources to do so, as reported by The Sun.

While the club has access to funds via a revolving credit facility and had even prepared to activate a substantial £65 million release clause for winger Antoine Semenyo, the leadership has opted to adhere to a stringent long-term strategy. This decision has allowed Manchester City the opportunity to secure Semenyo in January.

This choice comes as Michael Carrick assumes managerial responsibilities at Old Trafford for the remainder of the season, tasked with stabilizing the team without the benefit of mid-season reinforcements.

The current stance signifies a clear departure from the approach advocated by former head coach Ruben Amorim, who, prior to his dismissal, had strongly pushed for the addition of a midfielder during the winter transfer window. This recommendation confounded senior United officials, who believed Amorim understood the club’s strict budgetary framework. After a significant expenditure of over £250 million on six signings last year, the board is resolute in reserving any substantial future investments for the summer, anticipating that more advantageous opportunities and specific targets will emerge then.

Although the winter window may remain dormant, plans for the summer are reportedly well underway. The club has singled out the defensive midfield position as a key area of focus, tracking a selection of promising talents to address this need, including Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace, Carlos Baleba from Brighton, and Alex Scott from Bournemouth.

These potential targets align with a strategic shift towards younger, more dynamic profiles capable of evolving with the team. The decision to refrain from immediate action, despite available funds, indicates a level of discipline that has been inconsistent in previous years. Historical context underscores this inactivity, as United notably refrained from making signings during the interim management periods of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2019 and Ralf Rangnick in 2022, even when the latter expressed a need for attacking reinforcements following Mason Greenwood’s absence.

Instead of pursuing new recruits, Carrick will rely on a wave of returning players to reinforce his squad. The 44-year-old spent Tuesday at the Carrington training facility preparing for his first game in charge against Manchester City this weekend. He anticipates the return of key attackers Amad and Bryan Mbeumo from the Africa Cup of Nations, adding critical depth to the forward line at no transfer cost.

Moreover, the injury crisis that plagued Amorim during his final weeks—forcing him to field nine defensive players in his last match against Leeds—is showing signs of improvement. Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, and Harry Maguire all returned from injuries last week. Currently, Matthijs de Ligt is the only significant injury concern, while Noussair Mazraoui remains engaged with international duty for Morocco. Following their elimination from the FA Cup at the hands of Brighton, the club believes the current squad possesses enough versatile options to navigate the remainder of the season.

However, the decision to delay new signings until summer presents Carrick with a challenging midfield conundrum. The squad currently features only three specialist central midfielders: Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, and the returning Mainoo. There are increasing concerns regarding Casemiro’s ability to thrive in a high-intensity 4-2-3-1 system, particularly as there are fears that his defensive capabilities may be overstretched. At 33 years old and approaching 34 in the coming month, he is expected to be released once his contract expires in June.

Ugarte’s form has also become a concern. The Uruguayan has started nine matches across all competitions this season, yet United has managed to secure victory in only one of those games. He was only reinstated to the starting lineup when Amad and Mbeumo left for AFCON, indicating a decline in his standing within the team. With Mainoo potentially making his first Premier League start since May 11 in the forthcoming Manchester derby, the pressure will be on the academy graduate to hold the midfield together until the anticipated summer spending spree finally materializes.