Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already indicated that it will take Manchester United “two or three” summer transfer windows to address all their issues as the January transfer window opens. The mid-season window began on Wednesday, giving clubs a month to enhance their squads for the second half of the season, and fans are hopeful for new signings at Old Trafford. However, United has stated that there is “no money” available for new acquisitions this month, leaving Ruben Amorim in suspense about whether the club can raise funds through player sales to improve his team. Amorim took over from Erik ten Hag in early November and quickly made changes to United’s playing style, shifting from a 4-3-3 formation to a 3-4-3. This indicates that United is deficient in crucial positions on the field, particularly at wing-back. However, even without the financial limitations they are experiencing this month, they have seldom made significant expenditures in January. For instance, Ten Hag did not receive a permanent player in either of the two January transfer windows he managed. The decision to retain Ten Hag last summer could potentially delay the club’s long-term plans by several years, as Amorim was brought in just months after the club opted to extend Ten Hag’s contract by another year. Consequently, Ratcliffe believes that it may take Manchester United up to three summer transfer windows to address their issues, potentially delaying the process even more. “We’re somewhat constrained in that regard, so I think we’ll manage quite well,” Ratcliffe stated while looking ahead to the 2024 summer window. “It will require two or three summer transfer periods to reach a better situation. I’m not sure we can address all the issues in the first transfer window.” No matter the circumstances with the manager, Ratcliffe was correct. United would never be able to resolve all their problems in a single transfer window. Last summer’s transfer period signaled the start of the Ineos era at United, with significant attention given to enhancing the club’s recruitment success. Sir Jim Ratcliffe (left) understands that Manchester United has a challenging journey ahead.
