Manchester United must deviate from their usual quiet January transfer window strategy to strengthen their squad, according to a Manchester Evening News analysis. The club's lack of a clinical centre-forward was exposed in the recent draw against Leeds, where Bryan Mbeumo missed two good chances before scoring.
Mbeumo, playing as an auxiliary centre-forward for the second consecutive game, opened the scoring against Leeds but could have had a hat-trick. His first header in the Leeds penalty area went wide, and he snatched at another decent chance before converting his third opportunity.
Leeds equalised five minutes into the second half, with the points shared. The analysis suggests the outcome might have been different if United had gone into half-time with a two-goal lead.
Striker and left-back gaps exposed
Mbeumo is currently United's best option in the centre-forward role, but he cannot clinically finish like a top striker because he is naturally a winger. Benjamin Sesko has been ruled out since feeling pain in his shin after facing Brighton in the Carabao Cup last month.
United did not sign a back-up striker over the summer despite knowing Sesko would miss the entire pre-season. Danny Welbeck seemed an obvious candidate, but Chelsea signed him instead.
The other position overlooked in the summer window was left-back. Diogo Dalot played left wing-back against Leeds, while Ayden Heaven had played as a left-back against Atletico Madrid.
January window history and need for action
United have made no incomings in three of the last five January windows (2026, 2024 and 2022). They signed Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven in January 2025, and officially signed Amad in January 2021, though that deal was agreed months earlier.
The analysis concludes that United may be forced to overpay for a target in January if it means filling a hole at left-back or centre-forward and helping the team secure Champions League football. Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox can see the areas that need strengthening, and January is a chance to do that.
