Manchester United have not won a Premier League game since beating Ipswich Town on 30 August, and Sunday’s 4-4 draw with Aston Villa showed why. Two goals inside four minutes made it the quickest United have ever fallen 2-0 behind in the Premier League, before Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu rescued a point.
Michael Carrick’s side sit 18th, and only Crystal Palace and Ipswich have conceded more than their 19 league goals. The summer budget went on midfield, with Andrey Santos, Carlos Baleba and Youri Tielemans arriving, so the weaknesses sit on either side of them. January offers three fixes.
1. Nathan Collins, a centre-back who wins his duels
The Daily Mail reports that Brentford’s Nathan Collins sits on a defensive shortlist with Calvin Bassey and Jarrad Branthwaite, and he suits United’s problems best. The Republic of Ireland captain is 25, is 6ft 4in and won 89 aerial duels last season at 54.9%, a mark FotMob places in the 82nd percentile for centre-backs.
United had conceded seven goals after the 80th minute under Carrick by early September, so aerial strength matters. Collins collected seven yellow cards last season and has been among Brentford’s substitutes this autumn, while his contract runs to 2029, so Brentford will demand a heavy fee.
2. David Raum, a left-back on a knockdown price
TEAMtalk reports that RB Leipzig captain David Raum wants to join United and could cost around £30m, because his contract expires in June 2027. Luke Shaw, 31, is the only senior natural left-back United have, with Dorgu, Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot covering out of position, and Newcastle’s Lewis Hall has signed until 2031.
Raum, 28, delivered seven assists and three goals last season, and he brings overlapping runs Carrick lacks on that flank. BILD says Leipzig view his recent form critically, and his resale value is low. Football Insider claims United would rather wait until summer, yet waiting costs points a relegation battle can’t spare.
3. Igor Matanovic, the striker who completes the list
Freiburg’s Igor Matanovic completes the list, although he is the hardest deal. The 23-year-old Croatian striker is 6ft 5in, ranks in the 94th percentile for aerial duels among Bundesliga forwards and scored 11 league goals last season.
Ben Jacobs reports that United and Tottenham have both enquired, yet he would be surprised if Freiburg sanctioned a mid-season exit, and reports put the asking price near £50m. Benjamin Sesko is United’s only natural number nine, so Matanovic would end the reliance on Zirkzee. He only became a regular starter in January, so the sample remains small.
Can three January signings save Manchester United’s season?
Not on their own, but two of them can change the points tally. Collins and Raum address the 19 league goals conceded, and both carry a clear case on price or contract. Matanovic is the luxury, because paying around £50m for a second striker while Ineos reportedly cut the wage bill would force United to choose between him and a defender.
Take the defender. Santos, Baleba and Tielemans used up the summer budget, and none of them helped when United conceded twice before the fifth minute. Sign Collins and Raum first, then chase Matanovic only if Freiburg change their stance.
