United need a loan star to make a huge impact to salvage season

Here we go again.

- ALEX JAMES

The January transfer window is upon us and United need to do business. The Reds are behind the curve in the Premier League and have plenty of ground to make up to rescue their season.

But undertaking that recovery mission in a winter window fraught with panic buys and difficult deals will be no easy task, even more so with United's budget constraints. January success stories are few and far between.

Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra arrived in 2006 for a combined total of a little more than £12m. But, nearly two decades on, inflated prices and improved European scouting across the board means those types of transformative cutprice deals are almost impossible.

United spent big on Bruno Fernandes in 2020 but Financial Fair Play concerns and the money splashed out in the summer means there won't be large fees paid out by the Reds this month. Erik ten Hag is instead likely to look to the loan market to seek squad additions.

It's a strategy that didn't serve United too well last season with Wout Weghost failing up front and Jack Butland not even playing. Marcel Sabitzer was a useful signing if not one that automatically improved the first XI.

This time around, the Reds once again find themselves in need of attacking arrivals with the current forward line misfiring. Rasmus Hoilund has struggled for goals since his arrival while Marcus Rashford's form has fallen off a cliff. It means Ten Hag and United will be seeing if they can find another short-term solution hampered by obvious the parameters.