January Transfer Window 2026

[jerseytoffee]

Mainoo is a real enigma. Came in and was touted like a star, got in the england team and had the world at his feet.

Then dropped. Suddenly no one knows his best position.

Its all a bit odd.

Looked good when he came through but it's not helped him playing under two poor managers and Utd a club in chaos.

Rumours this morning are to Arsenal but he'd struggle to get in there

 

[Nymzee]

Mainoo is a real enigma. Came in and was touted like a star, got in the england team and had the world at his feet.

Then dropped. Suddenly no one knows his best position.

Its all a bit odd.

English Billy Gilmour

 

[Zatara]

Big money Mainoo when we should be trying to bring through a 19 year old midfielder next season would be absolutely brain-meltingly weird

Not sure on Mainoo himself but you're alluding to Armstrong being brought into the squad next season.

For me, the 2 central roles are LCM: KDH & RCM: Garner.

At Derby he would be deeper so I suppose could push Garner for a place, while at Preston the 2 games ive been ready to watch recently - hes been injured - though im told he's more advanced so more like KDH.

So if as expected he returns to the squad in the summer we'd need another CM in there from:

Rohl
Iroegbunam
Gana

Would you have those over Rigg or Mainoo as part of the 4?

 

[WA Toffee]

A lot of people in the transfer thread that claimed it wasn't a priority at all and we were fine with a CB and CM playing there, and Coleman "filling in" too.

I was one of those that fitted in with the first half of your post. I still believe the priority was more creativity. Without the summer signings we made we have McNeil and a random from the youth team as our creative outlets. Is that really what you wanted?

 

[mccole]

Mainoo is a real enigma. Came in and was touted like a star, got in the england team and had the world at his feet.

Then dropped. Suddenly no one knows his best position.

Its all a bit odd.

I think he was a Rashford tag along which is a bit of bad look under Amorim but he is only 20 years old

He has real quality and such a waste at United.

Loan with obligation would suit all parties but he may feel his needs to aim higher.

 

[micknick]

I have no info on this but I had a strong feeling we'll make a move for Dušan Vlahović. Out of contract in the summer and possibly available for a reduced fee in january.

However a fairly serious injury has probably put that to bed.

 

[Lapeno77]

Mainoo is a real enigma. Came in and was touted like a star, got in the england team and had the world at his feet.

Then dropped. Suddenly no one knows his best position.

Its all a bit odd.

The one caveat is he's playing in an absolute circus at the moment at Utd.

Look what it did to Rashford, to Hojlund, McTominay to an extent.

Think he needs someone to give him a bit of support and protection and Utd just seems to be a free for all at the moment, every man for himself.

If a loan is possible in Jan, I wouldn't be too disappointed to see him end up here.

 

[hetion]

Not sure on Mainoo himself but you're alluding to Armstrong being brought into the squad next season.

For me, the 2 central roles are LCM: KDH & RCM: Garner.

At Derby he would be deeper so I suppose could push Garner for a place, while at Preston the 2 games ive been ready to watch recently - hes been injured - though im told he's more advanced so more like KDH.

So if as expected he returns to the squad in the summer we'd need another CM in there from:

Rohl
Iroegbunam
Gana

Would you have those over Rigg or Mainoo as part of the 4?

I still don't think Garner should be our starting 6 next season.

If KDH moves to 8 full-time, then we want an absolute beast of a DM next to him, which Garner is not.

Armstrong should be getting ~1500+ minutes at CM next season, whether that's at 6 or 8, which doesn't really leave room for another 19/20 year old CM.

Basically - buy a top class number 6, then we can have any of KDH, Armstrong, even Rohl if he comes good next to him. Garner can cover both positions and right back ably.

Keep Garner at 6 and then you have a 6 who is a good all-rounder but not elite at any of passing, ball-carrying or ball-winning. So then how do you balance that out in a pairing? You're always missing something.

 

[mccole]

The 'quality' DM there is Frendrup and Im not sure he'd cost £20-30mil.

Not really fussed on those right backs either (Sanchez probably never under Moyes) with Holm playing for Bologna not Genoa btw.

Arnau Martinez was really highly rated a couple of years ago but never got a move.

Roma, Inter and Milan all linked plus I think West Ham had a £20m summer bid rejected so a couple of extra million.

Genoa's highest transfer fee is £20m so north of that plus a bumper contract for Frendrup would seal the deal.

On right backs, Martinez would be a great signing in terms of age, experience and value. Contracted until 2027 so not long to cash in on him.

El Ouahdi is a exciting player who is flexible but a big leap to the Premier League from Belgium

 

[RomanReigns]

Fred from Fenerbahce is the DM we should get

 

[preposterousvelios]

I was one of those that fitted in with the first half of your post. I still believe the priority was more creativity. Without the summer signings we made we have McNeil and a random from the youth team as our creative outlets. Is that really what you wanted?

We have 2 of the best creative wide players in the league, and they're both now being marked out of games becuase we don’t have any full backs.

 

[hetion]

Roma, Inter and Milan all linked plus I think West Ham had a £20m summer bid rejected so a couple of extra million.

Genoa's highest transfer fee is £20m so north of that plus a bumper contract for Frendrup would seal the deal.

On right backs, Martinez would be a great signing in terms of age, experience and value. Contracted until 2027 so not long to cash in on him.

El Ouahdi is a exciting player who is flexible but a big leap to the Premier League from Belgium

Why would we want another midfielder who can't pass the ball forward though

 

[mccole]

Still hoping we go for Dju this January

 

[WA Toffee]

We have 2 of the best creative wide players in the league, and they're both now being marked out of games becuase we don’t have any full backs.

Would you rather 2 decent full backs overlapping McNeil and a random from the youth team?

Each to their own I suppose

 

[preposterousvelios]

Would you rather 2 decent full backs overlapping McNeil and a random from the youth team?

Each to their own I suppose

Ndiaye was already at the club for a year in summer and we got Grealish on loan, so not sure what you're talking about tbh.

We did spend money on Dibling, who's yet to really play at all. I'm not anti-Dibling btw think he will be a good signing but his lack of minutes so far doesn't exactly support the idea that we would be completely bereft of any creativity had we not spent that money.

If anything what we've seen on multiple occasions is that Garner (a capable player) playing at right back makes us look better, more balanced as a team and gives the wide players space to create.

We tried for Tete, Juanlu and Fort right up until the deadline, and didn't get any of them in. Clearly we wanted and needed a right back, so not sure how not managing to bring one in could be viewed as anything other than a failure by the recruitment team.