This summer, Erik ten Hag added seven players to his team with an eye toward the mid-season window.
After bringing in seven new players to their constantly changing roster this summer under Erik ten Hag, Manchester United will already be looking ahead to the January transfer market.
On deadline day, four more players entered the building after blockbuster permanent acquisitions Andre Onana, Mason Mount, and Rasmus Hojlund, who collectively cost more than £180 million. Jonny Evans, Sergio Reguilon, Sofyan Amrabat, and Altay Bayindir were all acquired by United in a last-minute flurry.
Reguilon and Amrabat had loan agreements executed. Fenerbahce spent €5 million on backup goalkeeper Bayindir to make up for Dean Henderson’s departure.
Further contributions will rely on outgoings due to budgetary restrictions as United works to recover crucial monies to immediately replenish the fund. But in which specific areas would Ten Hag need to improve once the market is open and elite clubs in Europe can resume their operations?
How United chose to replace the five-time Ballon d’Or winner this summer was especially crucial because of the controversial circumstances in which Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from the team was approved last season. Hojlund was signed in that regard, but Mount ended up with the club’s illustrious No. 7 jersey.
Hojlund chose No. 11, while Bayindir, Amrabat, Reguilon, Onana, and Evans all selected jerseys that had been previously unassigned or left behind by departing players. Reguilon, a last-minute left-back hire, didn’t pay attention to the No.3 he wears for his primary club, Tottenham.
Currently, January signings have the following options: 3, 13, 26, 27, 30, 31 and 32. But if any player leaves before then, like Van de Beek (No. 34), more numbers can be added to that list for the players United is interested in.
