Sir Jim Ratcliffe can give Manchester United something they needed after Cristiano Ronaldo left

Manchester United may already have one transfer planned for January.

Jadon Sancho is looking increasingly likely to leave United at the next available opportunity, having been exiled from the first-team picture by Erik ten Hag. His refusal to apologise for accusing the manager of lying has seen him out in the cold since September, and with the temperature already dropping in Manchester, he will seek shelter elsewhere.

United will want to recoup a good portion of the £73million they spent on Sancho when they do eventually sell him, but the mid-season market makes such high-profile deals hard to come by. Reports of interest - whether it be from Germany, Italy or Saudi Arabia - suggest a short-term loan, potentially with a permanent clause, seems the most likely outcome.

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Ten Hag will be used to not having Sancho come January but the Dutchman would still be minded to replace him in the squad. Outside factors have not helped this season but United's options on the right-wing are limited.

Antony has struggled since his arrival and continues to frustrate Ten Hag, while Facundo Pellistri is not trusted to make the role his own.

Ten Hag might get a sense of deja vu in January, having spent last January searching for someone to replace Cristiano Ronaldo. It's nearly a year since the Portuguese forward took part in that interview with Piers Morgan.

United went scouring for a replacement but with financial concerns intensifying and no money from the Glazers, they were forced into the loan market and brought Wout Weghorst across from Burnley. It would be an understatement to say