Man United looking at four defensive options, and Jadon Sancho exit, in January

Ryan Grace

Chaos in Copenhagen is a sign of turbulence at Manchester United.

Things went from bad to worse for Manchester United in the Champions League, on Wednesday, as Erik ten Hag’s side surrendered a 2-0 lead to lose 4-3, away to Copenhagen.

The Dutchman became the fastest manager in United’s history to reach 50 wins with their 1-0 league win against Fulham, last weekend. However Marcus Rashford’s controversial red card coupled with United’s blatant inability to defend balls whipped into the box halted any hint of momentum at the club.

It was a chaotic night in Copenhagen with seven goals, two penalties, a controversial red card, and a late winner from a 17-year-old off the bench.

Manchester United players react to Marcus Rashford’s red card during Champions League loss to F.C. Copenhagen (Photo by Fantasista/Getty Images)

Spending big unlikely in January.

Disaster in Denmark leaves United bottom of their Champions League group after four games, with fans calling out for more emergency recruitment come the January transfer window.

But with the uncertainty surrounding United’s ownership structure and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s proposed 25% stake in the football operations side of the club, spending big in January is unlikely for the red side of Manchester.

Erik ten Hag will instead have to paper over the cracks with loan deals and more unproven stopgaps to steady the ship.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts during their Champions League loss to F.C. Copenhagen (Photo by Fantasista/Getty Images)

Erik ten Hag to reinforce back line.

With no Premier League goals to striker Rasmus Hojlund’s name, an out-of-sorts Marcus Rashford, and problems galore on the right wing, you’d be forgiven for thinking United’s priority in January would be to bolster their attacking line.

Realistically the chances of securing the signature of an Ivan Toney or another high profile attacking player is unlikely given United’s woes off the pitch and financial uncertainty.

They instead have their eyes on four defensive options to help sure up the back line.

Jean-Clair Todibo of Nice, Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini, Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba, and Everton youngster Jarrad Branthwaite are all centre-back options for ten Hag that won’t cost the Earth.

Manchester United player Jadon Sancho (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Sancho could free up funds for the Winter.

One ace in the hole that United could employ in January is the seemingly impending departure of winger Jadon Sancho.

Sancho has been exiled by the manager after publicly complaining about a lack of game time and being labelled as a “scapegoat” for the club’s problems.

With no reconciliation between the two in sight, offloading Sancho in January could be key to freeing up funds for ten Hag to chase these defensive targets.

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