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Manchester United could sign some outstanding players in the January transfer window to bolster their squad for the second half of the season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United side is quite unpredictable from one moment to the next. After beating Paris Saint-Germain away and RB Leipzig at home to kick off their UEFA Champions League, they lost their corresponding fixtures and crashed out in the group stages.
They made it to the semifinals of the Carabao Cup and are currently tied on points at the top of the Premier League table with Liverpool. Manchester United have to be a lot more consistent in order to really give the Merseysiders a run for their money in the second half of the season.
To this end, it is imperative that they get some quality cover in a few positions and here, we take a look at five players Manchester United could sign in January.
5 players Manchester United could sign in January
#5 Moises Caicedo
19-year-old Ecuadorian midfielder Moises Caicedo has garnered the interest of several European giants and he is a strong, athletic and intelligent presence in the centre of the park.
The Independiente del Valle midfielder will be a great addition to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side and it will be yet another step in the right direction as far as the Red Devils' recruitment department is concerned. There has been a clear shift towards bringing in talented youngsters of late and Caicedo would be an inspired acquisition.
A box-to-box midfielder who is just as adept at bombing forward as he is at impeding opposition's attacking forays, at 19-year-old Caicedo is already a very matured player and will fit in easily to the Premier League thanks to his many attributes.
There have been several conflicting reports so far about Manchester United's interest in the player with the latest of them claiming that Brighton are now favourites to sign him. We will have to wait and see how this one unfolds over the next few weeks.
#4 Max Aarons
Norwich City's Max Aarons impressed in the Canaries' short stint back in the Premier League last season. The diminutive right-back was a dynamic presence down the right wing and would offer Manchester United a great attacking option from the back.
Manchester United's first-choice right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka is excellent in a defensive sense and though there are improvements in his attacking game, at times he looks a little out of ideas when going forward. Aarons' elite ball retention skills and ability to beat defenders will definitely be an improvement in that regard.
However, Manchester United will be compromising greatly on their defensive intensity with Max Aarons. But it goes without saying that Max Aarons would be an excellent option to have for the second half of the season.
#3 Thiago Almada
Manchester United are interested in signing 19-year-old wonderkid Thiago Almada who currently plies his trade for Argentinian club Velez Sarsfield. As per reports, the winger could complete a move to Manchester United this month and the Red Devils can secure his services by triggering his £23 million release clause.
Almada has been linked with Arsenal and Manchester City in the past and has also spoken about wanting to be coached by Marcelo Bielsa. However, Manchester United are currently frontrunners to sign him as they look to plan for the long-term by bringing in talented youngsters.
Almada can play anywhere across the frontline and the nimble-footed youngster loves to take on defenders and beat them. He is also not shy of testing the goalkeeper from range and has quite a shot in him. He is excellent with his passing in the final third and would help further diversify Manchester United's attack.
#2 Yves Bissouma
Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma is now on the wishlist of several Premier League giants thanks to his excellent work for Brighton this season. Graham Potter's men are 17th on the Premier League table but that's not a fair reflection of how good a player Bissouma has been.
Bissouma operates from the base of midfield and he is a dynamic footballer who is aggressive on the ball and could be a great replacement for Paul Pogba who is expected to leave the club at the end of the season.
Bissouma's defensive workrate is commendable and he also loves to take on players and get the better of them in midfield.
These are attributes that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would love his midfielders to be equipped with and with the likes of Scott McTominay, Fred and Donny van de Beek already staking a claim for a starting berth in that midfield, Bissouma's entry would further intensify the competition and quite possibly bring out the best in everyone.
Bissouma would also cost less than £20 million and he'd be an absolute steal at the price.
#1 Kieran Trippier
January signings are usually pulled off with specific objectives in mind which is exactly why Kieran Tripper's addition in January makes sense to Manchester United. Manchester United are willing to sign him in January if the FA lifts the 10 week ban on him for a betting violation.
The punishment which was ordained for providing information on their transfer position which is not available to others, is reportedly on hold. If Tripper is successful with his appeal against the length of the ban then Manchester United would love to bring him to Old Trafford to give competition to Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Trippier's current contract with Atletico Madrid will run out in the summer of 2022 and the Rojiblancos are keen on recouping £20 million they paid to sign him in the summer of 2019.
