Man Utd's alternative transfer window – £80m midfielder signs, Rashford and Mainoo U-turns

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Manchester United opted against strengthening their squad during the January transfer window following heavy spending last summer. The club have seen a considerable turnaround under Michael Carrick's leadership, securing victories in all three matches against Manchester City , Arsenal and Fulham .

Benjamin Sesko's dramatic late winner on Sunday clinched all three points and lifted the team back into fourth place in the Premier League standings. With only 14 fixtures remaining in the league campaign, the club's decision-makers will now hold off until the summer before naming a permanent boss and backing him with fresh signings.

However, the situation might have looked vastly different had Carrick been granted control of transfers throughout January.

With this in mind, Mirror Football has examined how an alternative January window might have unfolded for United, including potential arrivals and departures.

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Marcus Rashford has been on loan at Barcelona since the start of the campaign and has rediscovered his best form in Spain. The England international has made a significant impact for his temporary club with 20 goal contributions, particularly in Europe.

Barcelona currently possess a £26million option to make the forward's move permanent in the summer. Given how well the 28-year-old has settled, supporters anticipate this clause will be activated when the summer window opens.

Rashford departed United on a temporary basis during Ruben Amorim's time at the helm, with tensions between the forward and his manager playing a significant part. At one stage, Amorim suggested he'd rather field his goalkeeping coach than a player not putting in full effort during training sessions.

Soon afterwards, Rashford joined Aston Villa on loan and is now playing his football in Spain. However, with Amorim no longer at the club and former team-mate Carrick potentially taking charge permanently, there's speculation the academy product could be persuaded to make a comeback to Old Trafford.

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According to The Telegraph , if Carrick remains beyond the summer, he would be eager to bring Rashford back to Manchester. While it might have required some persuasion, reuniting with the club he's been part of since childhood under Carrick's management could have proved a significant advantage for United in the winter transfer window.

United's midfielders have been delivering outstanding performances since Carrick took control. Skipper Bruno Fernandes and outgoing star Casemiro have contributed to four goals across three matches, with the Portuguese maestro reaching his 200th goal contribution against Fulham on Sunday.

Kobbie Mainoo hasn't been particularly prolific in finding the net, but his cool head in the middle of the park has earned him considerable praise since his return to the squad.

However, maintaining this level of performance is challenging, and Carrick may have been enticed to invest heavily in reinforcements during January.

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Adam Wharton emerged as a top target for United , with Liverpool, City and Newcastle also circling. Crystal Palace have slapped a hefty price tag on the 21-year-old, especially given his contract doesn't expire until 2029.

Initial reports suggest a starting figure of around £65m, though this could balloon to over £80m given the fierce competition for the midfielder's signature. United are well aware of rival interest and may have considered lodging a substantial bid to frighten off other potential buyers.

With Oliver Glasner departing in the summer and Palace favourite Marc Guehi already making the switch to City, the club's decision-makers might have tested the Eagles' determination with an £80m offer that would have put them ahead of the pack.

As noted earlier, Mainoo has become the heartbeat of Carrick's midfield. He's featured from the start in all three matches under the former United captain, a stark contrast to his minimal playing time under Amorim.

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However, the arrival of another midfielder could have thrown his future into serious question. Mainoo had already been drawing attention during the transfer window and was said to be considering a temporary switch to guarantee regular first-team football.

The 2026 World Cup was also a key consideration for the 20-year-old's move as he battles to secure a place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad this summer. Had he remained as an infrequently used substitute under the former Middlesbrough boss, Mainoo would likely have pushed for a move away from United.

With genuine interest from Napoli, Chelsea, and Barcelona earlier in the window, the prospect of United losing another academy graduate wasn't beyond the realms of possibility.

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