MU slows down to avoid repeating past mistakes.

Manchester United's silence in the January transfer market is not a sign of weakness, but rather a necessary step back to avoid repeating past mistakes.

MU did not make any signings in January.

Manchester United have been largely inactive in the winter transfer market, and that doesn't really surprise observers. With the club still undecided on the most important question – who will be their long-term manager from the 2026/27 season onwards – any signings at this point carry inherent risks.

After years of paying the price for inconsistency, MU has been forced to slow down in order to reorganize itself.

The Ten Hag-Amorim Lesson and the Obligatory Caution

Looking back at the recent past, MU has ample reason to be wary. Erik ten Hag was given the authority to make signings before being sacked, only for his successor, Ruben Amorim, to inherit a squad with many players who didn't fit his philosophy. That scenario repeated itself so quickly that it became a direct warning to the new management.

After Amorim also failed to stay at Old Trafford, Jason Wilcox, Omar Berrada, and even Sir Jim Ratcliffe could no longer continue "throwing money around" while the manager's position was vacant. Michael Carrick is impressing in his second interim stint, but he understands that short-term performance is not enough to lay the groundwork for a new transfer window.

Michael Carrick is only the interim manager of Manchester United.

In this context, MU's decision to remain inactive in January is a logical one. According to transfer experts, the winter transfer market is often inflated, while its strategic effectiveness is limited if not linked to a long-term plan. MU needs to clearly define their desired style of play and their desired manager before restructuring their squad.

Midfield: an old problem with no solution.

Although Manchester United are not in a hurry to make new signings, they cannot avoid the reality that their midfield needs restructuring. Bruno Fernandes remains the heart of their play, but he will turn 32 when next season begins.

Rumors about Bruno receiving a huge financial offer from Saudi Arabia are no longer far-fetched. If that scenario unfolds, MU would not only lose their captain, but also their most important creative player.

Even with Bruno staying, MU still lacks a "box-to-box" central midfielder who can both defend and carry the ball forward, a type of player once exemplified by Bryan Robson or Roy Keane. Manuel Ugarte has not lived up to expectations, while Kobbie Mainoo is more attack-oriented than a pure defensive anchor.

Therefore, it's understandable that names like Carlos Baleba and Elliot Anderson appear on MU's watchlist. More importantly, both have compelling statistics for the role that MU is currently lacking.

Anderson (23 years old) has 3 goals and 8 assists in 72 games for Nottingham Forest, far surpassing Baleba (22 years old) with 4 goals and 2 assists in 99 games for Brighton. But Anderson's value doesn't lie in his goals. He made 1,143 forward passes, 907 of which were accurate in the final third of the pitch.

Anderson also had 175 successful dribbles (minimum 10m), a pass completion rate consistently above 81%, and won 110 out of 174 tackles. Even more remarkably, he recovered possession 466 times and won 103 out of 169 aerial duels, a rare feat for a central midfielder.

Baleba (right) is on MU's radar.

Baleba also brings a very "Premier League" profile. The Cameroonian midfielder stands out for his strength and ability to retain possession under high pressure.

He conceded only 77/169 tackles, participated in 802 one-on-one duels, recovered the ball 401 times, and showed 181 signs of improved dribbling. Bale completed 2,660/2,997 passes, demonstrating consistency and security in ball distribution, something MU often lacks when under heavy pressure.

Comparing these two players, it's clear that MU doesn't lack options, but rather the right timing. Summer is when the club can clearly assess its budget, Champions League ambitions, and most importantly, the players' willpower. If MU qualifies for the Champions League, Brighton or Nottingham Forest will find it very difficult to retain these key players.

Not making big signings in January didn't immediately strengthen Manchester United. But it helped the club avoid a familiar cycle: buying players for the interim manager, then changing managers, then buying again. In the context of a complete restructuring, patience, however frustrating for fans, may be the best decision Manchester United has made in years.

Highlights MU 3-2 Fulham: On the evening of January 2nd, MU secured a thrilling 3-2 victory against Fulham in the 24th round of the Premier League.

Source: https://znews.vn/mu-cham-lai-de-tranh-sai-lam-cu-post1625773.html