The big transfers Man Utd have been linked with since summer window shut - and whether they'll sign in January
A look at the players that Manchester United might buy in the January transfer window - and the odds that those deals happen.
There’s a sense that Manchester United didn’t manage to complete all of their intended business over the course of the summer transfer window, and the continued existence of gaps in the squad serves as one plausible explanation for their slow start to the 2026/27 season. The failure to sign every player they needed may also encourage them to make a splash in the January transfer window.
Some position groups are likely to remain intact and the club want to see what they have in their new-look midfield before making moves there, but left-back is a particular problem (one exacerbated by an international break injury to Patrick Dorgu) and there is a possibility that another attacking players is added as Benjamin Šeško struggles for fitness and consistent form.
Although there’s still a few months to go until the transfer market reopens for business, there is plenty of speculation surrounding Manchester United’s likely activity already. Below, we’ve looked at some of the players that the Red Devils have been linked with, and rated the likelihood of a January transfer out of 10.
Alejandro Balde
The 22-year-old Barcelona left-back is among the most talented players in his position in Europe, but injuries have hampered his progress over the past couple of years – and Manchester United were in talks over a potential transfer over the summer.
They weren’t prepared to gamble on a permanent transfer (which would likely have been worth north of £30m) and Barcelona weren’t prepared to let Balde leave on loan, which killed any chances of a summer move, as did Balde’s own preference to stay at the Camp Nou. The picture could be changing slowly, however.
Balde has played just 12 minutes of football since the summer and reports suggest that he is re-evaluating his own position within the squad. His club, meanwhile, may be more willing to agree to a temporary deal for a player who simply isn’t a part of the first-team plans right now. Signing Balde could be a budget-friendly way to address the lack of depth at left-back, and perhaps a long-term solution if he can get back to his best.
Likelihood rating: 5/10
David Raum
Quite a few stories suggested that RB Leipzig left-back Raum was on Manchester United’s shortlist over the summer, but instead they spent their time engaged in ultimately fruitless haggling over Balde and an equally unfulfilled attempt to sign Lewis Hall, who has since committed his short-term future to Newcastle.
The 28-year-old has been a regular feature of Germany squads for some time and, crucially, is inside the last year of his contract, meaning that there is every chance that he’s available at a knock-down price.
The bad news is that Juventus are also interested, according to the Manchester Evening News, while Raum himself has endured a pretty rocky start to the Bundesliga season which won’t have encouraged his suitors too much. He’s been a consistent performer for years, however, so don’t be surprised if Manchester United explore a move for Raum in earnest come the new year.
Likelihood rating: 7/10
Tyrick Mitchell
The third and final left-back worth noting at this stage of proceedings. The stories linking Manchester United with Mitchell don’t come from the best sources, if we’re being honest, so there’s a chance that it’s all just grist for the rumour mill, but it’s also a deal which makes plenty of sense from both United and Crystal Palace’s point of view.
Mitchell, like Raum, is in the final year of his contract, and that could give the Red Devils a chance at snapping up a proven Premier League full-back in a cut-price deal while ensuring that Palace at least get something for a player who has been a staple of their side for years.
The unanswered question is whether United like Mitchell enough to sign him, and we’d like to see the link being backed up by some more reputable outlets – but there’s an undeniable strand of logic behind the idea of a bid, and we wouldn’t be shocked if the rumours proved to be solid.
Likelihood rating: 5/10
Igor Matanović
As it stands, Manchester United seem more likely to look for a mid-priced striker than to make a big splash in January, but concerns over Šeško’s ongoing battle with a shin injury could still encourage them to go in search of a new number nine, especially if they can find somebody to take Joshua Zirkzee of their hands.
They tracked Croatia international Matanović over the summer after he scored 15 goals in his first season for Freiburg and their interest won’t have diminished – he’s started the new campaign in excellent form with five goals in five games already.
The difficulty is that Freiburg are unlikely to be willing to sell the 23-year-old mid-season – transfer journalist Ben Jacobs is among the sources suggesting that they’ll resist any bids – and the price required to twist their arm will probably prove to be too steep.
Likelihood rating: 3/10