Five players who could join Man Utd in January

Tom Weber

6 Dec 2025 20:48 GMT
5 min read

Manchester United still have plenty of problems to fix in their squad despite a lavish summer spending spree.

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The Red Devils shelled out more than €250 million in the previous transfer window, primarily bringing in high-profile attackers and goalkeeper Senne Lammens.

Despite this hefty outlay, Ruben Amorim's side continues to be incredibly inconsistent and riddled with holes that need to be plugged before Man Utd can take their place among Europe's elite again.

The Old Trafford club are in desperate need of a midfield overhaul, while Amorim insists that he needs a game-changer at left wing-back. Below, FootballTransfers looks at five players who could join Man Utd in January 2026...

Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth)

The most obvious choice for every top Premier League club is Bournemouth superstar Antoine Semenyo. The Ghana international has a €74 million release clause in January, and his national team boss, Otto Addo, has revealed that a mid-season move is possible.

Semenyo's clause needs to be triggered in the early stages of the window to allow Bournemouth to source an adequate replacement in the remaining weeks of the transfer period, so a quick decision is necessary.

While there are other clubs seemingly more desperate to sign Semenyo, it has been suggested that Man Utd could look to turn him into the decisive wing-back Amorim has been demanding. It is no secret that the Red Devils attempted to sign the 25-year-old in the summer.

Conor Gallagher (Atletico Madrid)

The first of several midfielders on this list, Atletico Madrid star Conor Gallagher is very likely to be on the move in January, and he is expected to be relatively affordable.

Although Gallagher insists that he is enjoying life in Madrid, he has made no secret of the fact that he is unhappy about his game time. It is understood that he wants to return to the Premier League to boost his chances of making England's World Cup squad.

Man Utd explored a late summer move for Gallagher, and they have repeatedly been linked with him since. Given that none of their top targets - Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba and Elliot Anderson - will be available in January, the former Chelsea man could be a viable alternative.

Ederson (Atalanta)

Atalanta midfielder Ederson is also expected to be the subject of intense speculation in the January market as his agent Andre Cury has openly admitted that he is likely to leave the Bergamo outfit in 2026.

The Brazilian's deal expires in 2027, and he has no intention of signing an extension, which means that he will have to be sold sooner rather than later. That said, Atalanta are reluctant to lose him mid-season.

Man Utd are known to be long-term admirers of the Serie A star, and it would not be a surprise if they were to try their luck for him in January due to the unavailability of their top targets.

Joao Gomes (Wolves)

Wolves star Joao Gomes, who already attracted the attention of Man Utd shortly after arriving in England, is once again being linked with the Red Devils because there is a feeling that he may become available in January.

Wolves are mightily struggling in the Premier League, which is why it has been claimed that they could look to reluctantly cash in on the Brazilian in the winter, given that his value would drop if they were to get relegated.

Gomes is not viewed as a priority target for Man Utd, but should he indeed become available, the Red Devils will be at the front of the queue for him.

Christos Mouzakitis (Olympiacos)

Olympiacos wonderkid Christos Mouzakitis is being chased by half of Europe ahead of the January transfer window, and Man Utd are said to be among the clubs most persistently pushing for his signing.

The Red Devils have reportedly made a bid worth €28 million, which has fallen short of the Greek club's expectations, while Real Madrid have also - unsuccessfully - made a slightly higher offer.

Olympiacos are resigned to losing their teenage prodigy, but they will naturally try to keep hold of the midfielder in January. However, if an offer matches their €30m-€40m asking price, it is expected that they will cave and sell mid-season.

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