Manchester United are teetering on the brink of a Champions League group-stage exit after falling to a dramatic 4-3 defeat to FC Copenhagen on Wednesday night. All focus is now on entering the November international break on a high in Saturday’s Premier League clash against Luton Town at Old Trafford.
But preparations for the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS are ongoing behind the scenes ahead of the January transfer window and beyond.
Express Sport rounds up all the latest news coming out of United in a successful week to soothe the pressure on Erik ten Hag.
Two January transfers eyed
Ten Hag reportedly wants to sign two players to bolster his squad in January but will be restricted by Financial Fair Play.
According to the Mail, Ten Hag has placed a defender and striker at the top of his transfer wishlist.
However, FFP and uncertainty over when Sir Jim and INEOS’ regime will commence are expected to limit United to cheap deals and loans.
Jadon Sancho could change that if the Red Devils manage to recoup a fee from a permanent sale. But an initial short loan is considered more likely for the banished winger.
Click here to join our Man Utd WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive Red Devils news.
Casemiro contract surprise
The same report claims United are also weighing up potential contract extensions alongside identifying transfer targets.
And Casemiro is a player surprisingly said to be under consideration, despite signing a four-year contract at Old Trafford when he completed a £70million move last summer.
The 31-year-old was in dismal form before being ruled out for several weeks through injury, and links with a potential exit are growing. So it would be a shock to see United enter talks over a new deal.
United are also reportedly looking at Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez as players to potentially hand new terms to. Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s discussions are ongoing.
Antony exit decision made
United don’t plan to offload Antony in the January transfer window, and the 23-year-old winger has no intention to leave, reports claim.
According to 90min, Antony believes Ten Hag still has faith in him to come good in M16 after splashing £85m to bring him along from Ajax last summer.
And the Brazilian’s agent has poured cold water on recent rumours linking him with a move to his homeland as part of United’s interest in Flamengo striker Gabriel Barbosa.
Antony has yet to produce a goal or assist this term, and the pressure is on to come good after a less-than-inspiring maiden campaign.
