Andre in, Casemiro out: What Man Utd need in January transfer window
They faced Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday and managed to salvage a point after being eliminated from Champions League play despite being paired with a comparatively weak opposition. Though there have been many false dawns for Manchester United in the past, it might be a base to build upon.
There is still an urgent need to bring in new faces, even with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s partial takeover expected to take place early in the next year. A couple of the team’s starters, including Donny van de Beek and Jadon Sancho, are expected to leave.
There won’t be much in the way of a transfer purse due to Financial Fair Play restrictions, so the club will mostly need to look at the loan market, or at least sell in order to purchase. Here, we examine who the team should bring in and who should go during the winter window.
Jadon Sancho is leaving.
The disagreement between Jadon Sancho and Erik ten Hag has lasted for over three months. There’s still been no apology and no opportunity to make any kind of relationship correction. Ten Hag looks to have landed some time with the upcoming takeover and the draw against Liverpool, so one of them will have to depart.
Sancho has been linked to Juventus, and there is currently very little chance that Ten Hag will leave. Sancho should leave the team before more harm is done to his career, both for the good of the team and the player’s future.
Antony Martial is on his way out.
It’s amazing to consider that Martial has spent nearly nine years with the team, save for a loan to Sevilla. It’s been a terrible spell, and that deal epitomises a lot of the negative aspects of Manchester United. Here was a young, gifted player who could have replaced Thierry Henry, but as the months passed, a growing Martial was absorbed into the poisonous atmosphere and reduced to little more than a high-paid player who occasionally played passably well when healthy. It’s time for this nightmare to stop.
Casemiro is leaving
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves; Casemiro was decent last season and has performed worse this season. He was sent off far too frequently to justify his £70 million. He appeared unfit and unprepared for the season’s opening games, although he is presently out due to injury.
There is a player there, but it’s not the same player that played for Real Madrid, nor does it appear like he makes £350,000 a year. Even while he may occasionally provide steadiness, he has to go on while Man Utd rebuilds.
Marcus Edwards is available for purchase.
Sporting CP’s Marcus Edwards has been quietly dominating in Portugal. He has reportedly previously undergone scouting, so replacing Sancho would not be too expensive. His number of goals and assists would undoubtedly surpass Antony’s by a significant margin.
Benjamin Sesko – purchase
It’s a tall order, really. It would require a down payment in addition to a purchase order. Lois Openda is the star player at RB Leipzig. Sesko is receiving limited opportunities, especially recently, but he will need playing time in order to advance in his career. This striker has the potential to be a world-class player and may be amenable to a trade. Young enough to flourish and develop. If Man Utd isn’t already knocking on Leipzig’s door, they should.
Andre – Purchase
The rumour that Man Utd had made an enquiry about Andre was leaked by FootballTransfers. It has since turned out that they have done so since Casemiro’s future is uncertain. According to sources, the midfield player may be moving on, and Andre would make a perfect substitute who is nearly identical.
Man Utd would be acquiring someone who is eight years younger than Casemiro, who is also a Brazil international, for a possible sum of roughly £25 million. Man Utd owes one of these clever pieces of business.
