After a difficult start to the 2024/25 season, a dream January transfer window certainly would not go amiss at Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim arrived in the cut and thrust of the season with the fixtures list ensuring limited time on the training pitch to implement his methods. What might have become clear is that his squad is not good enough.
Since sacking Erik ten Hag, United have been unable to improve their fortunes. The club sit 14th ahead of facing Newcastle United and despite a raft of signings in the summer, a few more may be required to transform the club's fortunes.
Mirror Football take a look at what would be the perfect transfer window for the Red Devils.
Marcus Rashford exit
The club are open to a transfer and Marcus Rashord wants to leave. An exit for the academy star may be a moment of sadness but is a sale that needs to happen.
If United can find a suitor willing to pay a fee and the 27-year-old's salary, it will prove a gamechanging result for the club whose transfer coffers would be boosted. If nothing else, Amorim will be saved from answering questions after leaving his charge out of a matchday squad.
A new forward arrives
Goalscoring has not come easy for United in recent times. The club currently have a negative goal difference in the Premier League and have managed just 21 goals in 18 games. A third of those goals came in just two matches too.
Rashford's exit would ensure Amorim is even more short of forwards and while full of potential Rasmus Hojlund has been unable to entirely shoulder the burden of finding the net just yet. Goals win games and a new striker may be required to fix that.
There are reports of a gentleman's agreement in place preventing Amorim raiding Sporting for players next month, but Viktor Gyokeres is the standout candidate. The Swede won't come cheap but is already familiar with Amorim's approach and United have been served by a mega-siging in January before with Bruno Fernandes.
A new left-back
With Luke Shaw's continued injury issues, and Tyrell Malacia yet to convince Amorim, having a natural left-back is high on the agenda at Old Trafford. A player familiar to the 39-year-old head coach is said to be looking for an exit too.
Paris Saint-Germain star Nune Mendes has seen discussions stall over a new deal in the French capital and has experience of playing under Amorim at Sporting. It would bring greater balance to United's backline and fix a position that has long been a problem.
True perfection?
While needing to sell players before buying is never an ideal situation, United do have players who will be heading off their books soon. If that can be achieved in January, all the more benefit to the club to in turn allow new players time to acclimatise in the Premier League.
Already a host of names including Rashford, Malacia, Joshua Zirkzee, Antony, Jonny Evans and Christian Eriksen have been left out of matchday squad's by Amorim. In a perfect window, perhaps United can complete some good business in the first month of 2025 to relieve Amorim of players he will not utilise.