After signing the likes of Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer transfer window, Manchester United are unlikely to be lavish a similar amount in January.
United — who will resume their Premier League campaign with a trip to St James' Park to lock horns with Newcastle on Monday evening — spent upwards of £120million in the summer, with the capture of Sancho their most expensive addition.
With that in mind, plus the inflated prices that come with the mid-season window, United are unlikely to throw hell to the wind as far as their recruitment is concerned next month, but new additions can't be ruled out.
The club wants to sign a new holding midfielder as a matter of priority, with interim manager Ralf Rangnick having been given the green light to bolster that area of his squad.
That means additions elsewhere in the squad in January look unlikely; nevertheless, the bookmakers are linking United with several players, including three who already apply their trade in the Premier League.
With that in mind, MEN Sport has taken a close look at five players the bookmakers are currently linking with January moves to Old Trafford.
Kalvin Phillips - 3/1
A holding midfielder is set to be United's number one priority in January and Leeds ace Phillips is a name being connected with a move to Old Trafford by the bookmakers.
Having gone from strength-to-strength under Leeds chief Marcelo Bielsa — both in the Championship and in the Premier League — the Whites midfielder forced his way into the England squad last year and played a key role in helping the Three Lions reach the final of the European Championship during the summer.
Considering he is 26, English and plays for one of United's biggest rivals, which will push his asking price up, the chances of United landing Phillips in January seems slim, despite the shortened odds.
Declan Rice - 7/1
Rice, who has also gone from strength-to-strength in the last few years, is a concrete target for United and the club has already discussed the framework for how they could construct a deal to lure him to Old Trafford.
Therefore, it is no surprise to see the West Ham midfielder being linked with a move by the bookmakers.
Just like Phillips, Rice is considered as one of the very best defensive-midfielders in the Premier League and would command a huge transfer fee, understood to be around the £100million mark — meaning the prospect of him making a move north in January is also slim.
This move seems more likely to happen in the summer.
Franck Kessie - 9/1
United might not find a better midfielder candidate than AC Milan midfielder Kessie right now.
The Ivory Coast international is out-of-contract at the San Siro at the end of the season, meaning he would most probably be available in a cut-price deal in January, with Milan no doubt mindful of the fact that they could lose him nothing at the end of the campaign.
The all-round, tough-tackling midfielder is viewed as one of the very best in the business and the prospect of either signing him in for a cut price in January could be an opportunity United explore.
Raphinha - 12/1
Having ended their search for a right-sided winger in the summer with the addition of Sancho, the chances of United plotting a January move for Leeds winger Raphinha seems somewhat unlikely.
Nevertheless, he is a name being connected with a move to Old Trafford by the bookmakers.
Considered as one of the very best right-wingers in the Premier League, the Brazilian has been Leeds' standout performer so far this term, scoring eight times in 16 appearances, highlighting what a special talent he is.
Erling Haaland - 14/1
Like Rice, Borussia Dortmund goalscoring sensation Haaland is another concrete target for United, so much so that Rangnick — as reported by the Manchester Evening News on Tuesday — is pushing to bring him to Old Trafford.
The Dortmund star has a €75million release clause within his contract that is set to become active in 2022, meaning an almighty battle for his signature is set to engulf next year, with numerous European giants desperate to sign him.
However, despite United's firm interest in his services, and the bookmakers listing them as the favourites to win his signature, this is another move that's more likely to happen in the summer.
All odds are courtesy of SkyBet and were correct as of December 23.
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