Every player on Man United’s Christmas transfer wishlist - including £100m midfielder and Crystal Palace trio

Manchester United’s transfer policy for more than a decade has been to throw money at expensive superstars to try and fix a multitude of problems and though it’s been almost entirely unsuccessful at least since 2020, that doesn’t look likely to change in the upcoming January transfer window.

The main area set to be targeted is central midfield, where Manchester United are no better off than they were 12 months ago when Amorim had scarcely got settled at Old Trafford.

That means that virtually every midfielder in Europe has been linked with The Red Devils, some more realistically than others. Reunions with Scott McTominay and James Garner appear unlikely while we’d wager most Manchester United fans hadn’t even heard of most of their supposed targets in the middle of the park a few months ago.

Seriously Red Devils fans, can you name which clubs Ederson, Assan Ouedraogo, Angelo Froholdt, Christos Mouzakitis, Castello Lukeba and Victor Stiller play for?

Comment below if you can, or if you spotted which two player surnames I switched around in that list. Or the one from that list who isn’t actually a midfielder, no Googling. However, there are some players emerging as more serious contenders while reinforcements would be welcome in central defence, wing-back and even in the front three given Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo could each miss up to six games competing in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Who is on Manchester United’s Christmas transfer wishlist?

Adam Wharton - Topping the list for most Red Devils fans and second only to Elliot Anderson for pretty much all the rest, Wharton may not be quite as refined as a world-class midfielder compared to his England teammate, but more than makes up for that with his success playing in the same system as Manchester United.

And he showed exactly what kind of game-changing impact he can in United’s trip to Selhurst Park earlier this season, with a sumptuous surprise pass that enabled Jean-Philippe Mateta to win a penalty.

Elliot Anderson - Even more accomplished than Wharton, it’s no exaggeration to say that England’s World Cup hopes may rest with Anderson - who’s valued at around £100 million. Whether Manchester United can prise the 23-year-old from Nottingham Forest, especially in January, remains to be seen but realism has no place for Christmas lists. Carlos Baleba, Joao Gomes, Conor Gallagher, or even Federico Valverde or Man United, Spurs and Newcastle interest">Ruben Neves are other alternatives in the middle of the park.

Marc Guehi - The third successive England player and another who proves the realism point, Guehi was set to join Liverpool in the summer and there’s little reason to suggest that ambition will have changed despite The Reds’ struggles.

However, the 26-year-old would slot into Amorim’s defence seamlessly as he peaks, and would be available for a cut-price transfer fee with only six months left on his Crystal Palace contract. Jeremy Jacquet would be a wonderful alternative and also anchors a back three at Rennes.

Daniel Munoz - Without wishing to turn Manchester United into the Trafford Eagles, Munoz would be a fantastic addition at right-wing back and recently said his dream his to represent The Red Devils.

Ivan Toney - The jury remains out on Benjamin Sesko but given United made such a huge splash up front in the summer, bringing in another marquee striker probably isn’t the wisest move. Instead Toney could thrive at Old Trafford, wants to return to the Premier League and could mentor the Slovenian while immediately contributing goals.

Antoine Semenyo - With the versatility to pop up anywhere in the attack from wing-back to centre-forward, Semenyo has been more highly sought after by Manchester United’s rivals but he’d be the perfect superstar signing to instantly contribute and he’s won’t be present at AFCON after Ghana failed to qualify. If Amorim wants to make a statement in January outside of central midfield, Semenyo should be his top target.