Fabrizio Romano says Ruben Amorim has told Man Utd what he doesn’t want in January, Ten Hag did it six times

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Manchester United are beginning to plan for the January transfer window.

Even with a largely successful transfer window in the summer, it was pretty clear there was something missing.

Manchester United bought three attackers and one goalkeeper. But the real concern was midfield.

While Casemiro is admirably holding the fort, it is crystal clear that Manchester United need to sign one or even two central midfielders.

And with Ruben Amorim reluctant to start Patrick Dorgu lately, could another left wing-back be needed?

Manchester United transfer latest

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is heavily involved in discussions with the club’s recruitment team.

According to Fabrizio Romano, he has made clear that he wants players who can help immediately, but not short-term fixes.

Romano told his YouTube channel: “The conversations have started between Ruben Amorim, the board, the management of Manchester United ahead of the January window.

“I told you about the midfielder. I told you that Manchester United are looking for that position. But just in general, Amorim and the management of Man United are talking about the January window, the opportunities and what to do with the players who want to play more.”

Romano explains that Amorim is not interested in any short-term loan moves. The possible exception is if there was a buy clause the club felt strongly about activating.

“Ruben Amorim is not in for bringing in a player for just few months. A player will join Manchester United if they believe the player could be an option for the long term.

“If someone joins in January it is a player who Man United can trust for the present but also for the future. This is the message of Ruben Amorim. Let’s not add players who can help for a few games and then they go back to their club.

“Let’s add someone who can help us today and tomorrow. So this is the message of the coach and this will be the idea also for the January transfer window.”

Erik ten Hag’s stop-gap signings

Ruben Amorim does not want stop-gap, short-term, quick-fix signings. It makes a lot of sense, because he simply is not that kind of coach.

If Manchester United wanted a quick fix, Ruben Amorim would not have been appointed.

Amorim’s predecessor Erik ten Hag spent a lot of money in the transfer market, but he also made six quick-fix loan signings too.

• Martin Dubravka
• Jack Butland
• Marcel Sabitzer
• Wout Weghorst
• Sofyan Amrabat
• Sergio Reguilon

Ten Hag used the transfer market to bring in two veteran loan goalkeepers to fill a spot, along with a striker and two midfielders.

Perhaps you can excuse the Sabitzer deal as this was an emergency signing after an injury to Christian Eriksen.

But the moves for journeymen Weghorst and Amrabat typified a lack of long-term thinking at the club.

You could make the argument that they worked. Both players started in finals at Wembley and won trophies for the club.

However, Erik ten Hag was fired early into his third season, with Manchester United still picking up the pieces from his failed project.

The Reguilon one was a total disaster, with the move made instead of giving a chance to Alvaro, who is now starring for Real Madrid.

Ten Hag’s era was not all about quick fixes, but this is one element of his reign that Ruben Amorim wants to avoid, and differentiate his own project in the process.