Manchester United have no budget for January transfer window

Manchester United have no budget to reinforce their flagging squad in the January transfer window.

United invested £206.06million in five signings in the summer and that has left them without the finances to strengthen next month.

Club sources have stressed United would have to sell to buy amid their struggles to comply with the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules and financial fair play. An external source said United "can't do anything" without movement from their squad.

Marcus Rashford's public wish to leave could ensure United seek a replacement if there is a market for one of the club's highest earners in January.

United staff insist they are prepared if an opportunity arises in the winter window, despite the sudden sacking of Dan Ashworth as sporting director in early December.

When asked whether United could make any additions next month, head coach Ruben Amorim replied: "We don’t have that possibility in January.

"You know the situation better than I [do]. It’s not the case I am not arriving here and I can spend a lot of money, changing all the team. You know the situation so it’s not a point to talk about it."

Figures at United have spoken hopefully about the potential of summer recruits Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte. The club were privately supportive of Zirkzee before his humiliating 33rd-minute substitution in the 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on Monday evening.

Juan Mata, Alexis Sanchez and Bruno Fernandes, three of United's most high-profile signings since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, all arrived in January. Goal-shy United, who have not scored in their past three games, also loaned in strikers Henrik Larsson, Odion Ighalo and Wout