Manchester United can make stunning January transfer statement by hijacking Real Madrid plan

Recruitment is done a little differently at Manchester United these days, but it does feel like the new structure put in place by Ineos has yet to truly make its mark on the club.

The initial £52m deal to sign teenager Leny Yoro from Lille was the stand-out transfer of the summer and a statement of intent from United, beating Real Madrid and Liverpool to the signing of one of the most highly-rated teenagers in European football. But the wheels had been greased for that move before United's new football department was fully installed.

After that, the signings had a relatively familiar feel, with two former Ajax players and a Dutch forward. The decision to push for Manuel Ugarte, a holding midfielder who wasn't top of Erik ten Hag's wish list, was at least a sign of flexibility and things operating a little differently.

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Ten Hag's sacking, and replacing him with Ruben Amorim as the first United boss to be referred to as head coach rather than manager, completes the organisational flow chat at Carrington. Sporting director Dan Ashworth now heads up the football department, with Amorim reporting to him. Technical director Jason Wilcox and interim director of recruitment Christopher Vivell are also involved in transfers.

There will be a limit to what they can do, certainly in January and perhaps even heading into the 2025 summer window. An outlay of £600m in three summers under Ten Hag has depleted resources, and there is an expectation that Amorim will start to get the most out of the talent already in place.

United have made a financial loss for five years in a row and continue to feel the