Three Players Manchester United Should Be Looking At Ahead Of The January Transfer Window

While results have picked up for Erik Ten Hag’s new and improved Manchester United, there is always one eye locked on the next transfer window to reinforce the squad.

Cristiano Ronaldo looks more certain than ever to leave the club coming into the winter months, crystallised by his off-field antics and regular cause for disruption.

The Portugal international attempted to leave the club in the summer, hence not turning up once for pre-season, but a lack of suitors and Manchester United not willing to part ways with him forced the centre forward to remain put.

With Ten Hag preferring Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford operating through the middle, the relationship with Ronaldo has strained further, resulting in very public passive aggressive tactics to undermine the new manager – such as walking down the tunnel before the game was finished against Tottenham Hotspur.

Here are three players that Manchester United will pursuing January onwards:

Victor Osimhen

A player that has continually been growing with each season, Victor Osimhen is now one of the most talked about young centre forwards in Europe.

Arriving from LOSC, the Napoli striker was signed for an impressed £65 million as a 21 year old. After an acclimatisation period in the south of Italy, the Nigerian centre forward has become one of the best players in Serie A.

This season, Osimhen has been involved in six goal involvements – five goals, one assist – in nine appearances across all competitions; including the winner last weekend against AS Roma.

With Ronaldo’s inevitable departure, it makes sense for Manchester United to move quickly, fighting off what would be any other potential suitors by trying to poach Osimhen in the January market.

Given the high price that Napoli paid for the Nigeria international, it is likely that the Red Devils will have to fork out more than £70 million to secure his signature.

While Rashford has filled in as the team’s number nine, it has been clear to see that Ten Hag lacks a natural goalscorer with energy in abundance. The Englishman’s finishing has been somewhat wasteful, and so the need to bring in an out-and-out striker is high on the priority list.

Frenkie de Jong

Manchester United’s coveted pursuit of Frenkie de Jong ultimately ended in disappointment as FC Barcelona kept their star midfielder past the summer window.

It was clearly from the moment Ten Hag took over that his number one priority was De Jong with the club pulling out every stop they had to try and recruit him. Ultimately, there were too many complications in the way over deferred wages that prevented the transfer from going through, but that is not to say Man United will not try again.

In came Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, both of whom have been absolutely excellent for Manchester United and revitalised their midfield. The question is now aimed at squad depth and having multiple world class players among the ranks.

De Jong has been used sparingly in the Champions League, with Xavi preferring to go for a midfield three of Sergio Busquets, Gavi and Pedri, leaving the Dutchman left on the bench.

Barcelona had agreed a deal with Manchester United for the transfer of de Jong, but the player was not to move until his deferred wages had been paid up by the Catalan club.

With de Jong recognising that his minutes have been cut short this season, it might just be the final domino to fall for the Dutch international to find pastures new.

Cody Gakpo

Arguably Europe’s most talked about player, Cody Gakpo is a player that is in demand this winter.

After nearly signing for both Manchester United and Leeds United on deadline day, Gakpo has started this season with the intent of making that career-defining move sooner rather than later.

He has laid down a serious market both domestically and in the Europa League. The Dutch international has 18 goals and assists in just 11 Eredivisie matches – a quite remarkable effort given he occupies the left wing rather than the centre forward position.

Nailed-on to be in Louis van Gaal’s final squad for next month’s World Cup, Gakpo’s stock is likely to continue to rise, which will be music to PSV Eindhoven’s ears with four years left on his current contract.

A transfer fee is likely to be in-and-around the £50 million mark, which is already at least £15 million more than what Manchester United had all-but agreed with PSV earlier in the summer. The Red Devils pulled out as they had finally secured the services of former Ajax player Antony, but are likely to return in the future.

The only downside of pursuing Gakpo is of course his more natural position of occupying th left wing, which Manchester United are rather stocked up on. If Ten Hag feels he can convert Gakpo to a more natural number nine, then it is a no brainer given his physical profile and goals record to date.