30 December 2023 , 09:30
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It's officially a new era at Manchester United following confirmation that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to assume control of the club's sporting operations.
The Ineos chief is parting with £1.25billion to acquire a 25 per cent stake in his boyhood club and will have designs on reversing the decline that has set in at Old Trafford gradually since the Glazers completed their leveraged buyout back in 2005.
Erik ten Hag will be desperate to bring in reinforcements to a squad which has made the club's worst start to a season in decades, but it seems highly likely United will have to raise funds through player sales if they are to make any significant mid-season signings.
With that in mind, we're playing Managing Man Utd on the eve of the January transfer window...
Saying goodbye
Casemiro has struggled to replicate the imperious form he showed last year following his £60million move from Real Madrid, so, reluctantly, he can go to raise some much-needed funds. Kobbie Mainoo's emergence will soften the blow of losing him.
Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash
Jadon Sancho is another name who has been touted around for a transfer and getting him off the books is a no-brainer given he is highly unlikely to feature under Ten Hag. He is one of the other saleable assets United currently boast, even if they are only likely to recoup a fraction of the £73million fee they spent on him.
There's been plenty of speculation linking Raphael Varane with a January exit, but given United's current absentees, it would be a major risk to sanction the sale of a player of Varane's quality. He stays put.
Join the debate! What business would you like to see Man Utd do next month? Let us know here.
Casemiro has been heavily linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League (PA)Anthony Martial has just six months on his deal and can go if anybody is willing to take on his salary. Donny van de Beek has already been offloaded and Hannibal Mejbri can also head out on loan.
Sergio Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat joined the club on season-long loan deals in the summer but both now feel expendable with Luke Shaw back and the latter flattering to deceive. Amrabat will miss most of January through his commitments with Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations, so cutting ties with the playmaker early makes sense.
Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire - two of the players who were deemed expendable by Manchester United in the summer - stay put after forcing their way into Ten Hag's plans. Antony also gets a reprieve...for now.
Incomings
Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke is a man in demand after plundering 12 goals in 18 matches (Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)When you consider United signed Jack Butland, Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer on loan in last year's January window, we'd be hard-pressed to do much worse - even if funds are tight.
There may be mitigating factors behind Rasmus Hojlund's slow start to life in the Premier League, but he shouldn't be bearing the goalscoring load for United. With the funds raised from offloading Casemiro and Sancho, I'd snap up Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke, who finally looks ready to fulfil the promise he showed as a fledgling young star at Chelsea.
Given any deal for Solanke would pretty much eat up all the additional funds we've raised from offloading some of the club's underperforming high-earners, we'd have to knuckle down and thrash out some proper deals to keep us going till the summer.
Donyell Malen is another player who has been linked with Manchester United (Michaela Rehle/AFP)A right-sided centre-back is believed to be on Ten Hag's wishlist and it's possible a bargain deal could be sorted. Jean Clair-Todibo is seemingly poised to join Tottenham, but Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo is refusing to sign a new contract and is therefore likely to be available for a cut-price fee in January.
Man Utd deadline day live updates as Sabitzer completes loan move
The former Manchester City academy graduate would relish a return to his roots and is capable of playing for a bigger club. At 25 years of age, he would be a good long-term squad option.
Donyell Malen is another player who could be available for a knockdown fee if United decide to seek an immediate replacement for Sancho. We'll pass on a move for David de Gea, though, after binning him in the summer.