Manchester United plans to wait until the last moment in the winter transfer window to sign a midfielder! Sir Ratcliffe believes the squad is strong enough to reach the Champions League and continues to back Amolin.

The January winter transfer window is underway, and rumors surrounding Manchester United's signings persist, with many players linked to the club. Yet, apart from the late December chase for Antoine Semenyo, potentially costing £65 million, no concrete transfer activity has taken place. The Red Devils might hold off until mid to late January to explore the possibility of a loan deal for a new midfielder. If no opportunity arises, they will refrain from signing anyone.

“Our winter window plans remain unchanged, and we have not discussed any need to adjust the squad,” Amolin said during the pre-match press conference at Leeds United. “Although we have a clear plan and are close to securing a Champions League spot, there are still eight teams closely trailing us in points, so our focus should remain on the next game.”

Transfer expert Ben Jacobs explained: “Manchester United is prepared to either bring in a player on loan in January or do nothing at all! The club’s preferred midfield targets are unavailable this winter, but they can patiently wait and try to sign Conor Gallagher or Ruben Neves before the window closes; Joao Gomes is also under consideration.”

The rumors linking Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid, Ruben Neves from Al Nassr, and Joao Gomes from Wolves to Manchester United have been ongoing for months, so fans are quite familiar with them. Notably, Gallagher has spoken with coach Diego Simeone about possibly leaving Atletico. He will prioritize a move that guarantees him a starting role, aiming to return to the England national team before the World Cup.

Premier League transfer expert Dean Jones revealed that both Manchester United and Tottenham could be Gallagher’s next destination, depending on whether Atletico approves the loan and how much salary they must cover. The 25-year-old England international earns £200,000 per week, a wage not easily afforded by many clubs.

Sources told TEAMtalk: “Simeone admits he cannot offer Conor the playing time he needs and deserves. That is the key issue. Atletico knows his quality and that he won’t settle for a bench role. They also don’t want to jeopardize his World Cup chances.”

It is said that Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS management team believe Ruben Amolin’s current squad is sufficient to compete for a top-four Premier League finish, especially considering the frequent struggles of their rivals. Even without new signings, qualifying for the Champions League is entirely possible.

Jacobs analyzed: “At the season’s start, I said Ratcliffe believes the squad he built after the summer window is enough to secure a Champions League spot. I think that is his private conviction, even if he hasn’t publicly stated it, and he is doubling down on efforts to achieve that… especially given the UEFA coefficient rankings, where finishing in the Premier League’s top five might suffice, not necessarily the top four.”

He added: “Manchester United is not struggling in the lower half of the table; they are positioned near the top. However, the mid-table cluster between fifth and fifteenth place is very large, which is why the coming weeks are crucial, as the league standings won’t remain static all season.”

The 28-year-old Ruben Neves is also among the players Manchester United is considering. The Portuguese international, formerly with Wolves, is attracting interest from various clubs as he has not renewed with Al Nassr. His contract expires at the end of this season, and rumors suggest he might be sold in January for a low fee of around £15 million.

Neves is eager to return to Europe and is even willing to reduce his £400,000 weekly salary in Saudi Arabia by two-thirds to achieve this goal. However, the wealthy Saudi owners reportedly plan to block his winter transfer, preferring to let him leave on a free transfer in the summer. Al Nassr coach Simone Inzaghi clearly stated: “Neves is our player until the season ends. Anyone saying he will leave in January is mistaken.”

This week, Chelsea’s coach Enzo Maresca was officially dismissed, with rumors linking him to Manchester City and even Manchester United. However, Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the Red Devils have not approached him. “At this stage, I have been informed that no negotiations are taking place between Manchester United and Maresca,” Romano explained. “Manchester United still support Amolin, and there are no alternative plans at this moment.”