Manchester United now need to find quick solutions to their poor January transfer window

Manchester United's January transfer window was disappointing for many fans. There were several outgoings, including Anthony Martial and Donny van de Beek leaving Old Trafford on loan, but more importantly, there were no incomings.

This trimming of the squad seemed good on paper, but on paper doesn't win football games, and the problems became increasingly apparent in United's FA Cup fixture against Middlesbrough.

To begin with, Jesse Lingard and Edinson Cavani were absent from the squad, already limiting the options on the United bench and meaning one substitute spot was left unfilled.

The rest of the bench consisted of two goalkeepers, Phil Jones, Juan Mata and a single attacking option in Anthony Elanga.

This may have been why Ralf Rangnick was reluctant to make a substitute until the 81st minute, but the team had begun to tire long before that, and when the team lost their energy, they lost control of the game.

It was clear that United needed reinforcement in the January window, especially in the midfield and even with the return of Paul Pogba, this is still the case. Still, now that time is past, Rangnick needs to figure out a way to solve the issue with the players he has at his disposal.

Rangnick has already blooded Elanga into the first-team squad, and he has started on several occasions, so it is likely that he continues to play a role in the team for the rest of the season.

And it seems the German also has plans for Hannibal Mejbri, who he has spoken highly about in his press conferences. Before the Middlesbrough game, he said: "We have Hannibal included in the squad. He will, from now on, regularly train with us and be a regular member of the squad. He will also be part of the squad for tomorrow's cup game.

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