The winter transfer window closed on Monday, and Manchester United largely underwhelmed in the market due to financial constraints and the difficulty in recruiting midseason. The club saw the departures of Marcus Rashford and Antony, two expensive and unwanted veteran players, while bringing in a largely unknown defender from Serie A (Patrick Dorgu) and a youth player (Ayden Heaven) from Arsenal’s academy.
The biggest issue is that United failed to bring in a center-forward to ease the pressure up front and prevent them from falling further behind in the Premier League table.
So, what does the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign look like for Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United? Does he have the players he needs to make his tactics and system work? And how should he tackle the league vs. cups debate, with United still alive in the FA Cup and Europa League while being stuck in the bottom half of the Premier League table?
Overall, given the situation, how content should Man United fans be with the January transfer window?
Mark Ogden believes United fans should be alarmed, though not surprised, as the club has consistently delivered the message that finances are tight, and players need to leave to raise funds and reduce the wage bill. Ogden argues that Amorim’s squad is desperately short of attacking quality, and the failure to invest in a forward, even on a six-month loan, could cost them their one realistic chance of qualifying for the Champions League through the Europa League.
Gab Marcotti, on the other hand, is not as negative. He acknowledges the financial restrictions but believes the club has made sensible decisions, especially in regards to the young players like Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee. Marcotti argues that bringing in another striker on loan could limit their playing time and development, which could make it harder to move them on in the future if necessary.
How close are Man United to having the players to implement Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation and execute it properly?
Marcotti believes United are very close to having the players to implement Amorim’s tactics, with the new signing Patrick Dorgu fitting a similar profile to Geovany Quenda, who excelled under Amorim at Sporting CP. The back three, at least until Lisandro Martínez’s injury, also has players with the right characteristics in the right positions. The midfield remains a question, but the wide areas and options at the No.10 position are adequate.
Ogden, however, disagrees, stating that while Amorim can just about get by in 8-9 positions, there is a case for an upgrade in each of those positions. He argues that the system fails when faced with more defensive opponents, especially at Old Trafford, as United struggle to dictate play and perform on the front foot.
1:17
Ogden: Højlund has been let down by Man United’s recruitment
Mark Ogden blames Manchester United for not signing a senior striker to help Rasmus Højlund.
Is centerforward still the most pressing need, and how confident are you that it can be addressed in the summer?
Both Ogden and Marcotti agree that the center-forward position is the most pressing need for Manchester United. Ogden notes that United have made many mistakes in recruiting a reliable center-forward, and the current options of Hojlund and Zirkzee are poor. He is unsure if United will be able to find the funds to sign a top-class striker in the summer, given their other areas of need.
Marcotti argues that it’s not just about having a center-forward, but having one who fits Amorim’s system and provides the necessary attributes, such as shooting regularly. He suggests that if United are ready to give up on Hojlund, they should go and splash the cash on a top-shelf central striker in the summer.
In the end, both experts agree that the center-forward position is the most critical area that Manchester United must address in the upcoming summer transfer window if they hope to see significant progress under Ruben Amorim.
2:09
How Marcus Rashford can prove that he wasn’t the problem at Manchester United
Mark Ogden breaks down Marcus Rashford’s loan move to Aston Villa from his boyhood club Manchester United.
Should Man United focus on the Europa League and FA Cup rather than trying to claw back in the Premier League table?
Both Marcotti and Ogden believe Manchester United should focus on the Europa League and FA Cup rather than trying to claw back their position in the Premier League table. With the club’s current league position making a top-four finish highly unlikely, the experts argue that the Europa League and FA Cup present the best opportunities for the club to secure a Champions League berth and win important silverware.
Marcotti suggests that the Premier League campaign can be used for development and experimentation, allowing Amorim to try different solutions and figure out the best options for his system. Ogden agrees, stating that the Premier League is now irrelevant for United, aside from the prize money at stake, and that the club should prioritize the cup competitions to maximize their chances of success and revenue.
Overall, the experts believe that Manchester United’s best path forward is to focus their efforts on the Europa League and FA Cup, using the remainder of the Premier League season to continue building and refining their squad under Ruben Amorim’s leadership.
