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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Victor

Man Utd's 'biggest problem' as Ralf Rangnick could green light raft of departures

Manchester United's January transfer window hasn't been as busy as some anticipated, though manager Ralf Rangnick may end up overseeing further departures on deadline day.

Anthony Martial and Amad have both left on loan, with French forward Martial dropping hints about his longer-term future, while the likes of Donny van de Beek and Phil Jones have been linked with deadline day exits.

One man who could end up staying despite earlier exit talk is Paul Pogba, with fresh reports suggesting the World Cup winner could be ready to extend a contract which currently due to expire in the summer.

Regardless of what happens with Pogba, though, Rangnick has some big calls to make over what is becoming a problem position for the club.

What has been Man Utd's biggest January mistake? Have your say in the comments section

Man Utd have had a challenging January transfer window (PA)

At the start of the January window, Rangnick was dealing with reports that the number of players looking for an exit sat in double figures.

There haven't been any permanent exits, though Axel Tuanzebe also left on loan before the Martial and Amad deals were confirmed.

The bigger issue is the lack of additions, though, with the Manchester Evening News suggesting sources consider the central midfield position to be United's "biggest problem" after a failure to land any of Rangnick's targets.

Amadou Haidara and Boubacar Kamara are among the central midfielders to have been linked with a January move to Old Trafford, but at the time of writing no deal has been completed for any permanent signing.

Reports suggests United will be unable to land any of their key targets this month, and Pogba's contract situation - his current deal expires in the summer - could make the need for additions even more urgent by the end of the season.

There are suggestions teenage midfielder Hannibal Mejbri could be brought into the first-team setup for the remainder of the season, after his Tunisia side suffered elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations over the weekend, especially if fellow midfielder Donny van de Beek is allowed to leave on loan.

Mejbri could be more heavily involved in the second half of the season (AFP via Getty Images)

Mejbri's fellow academy talent Shola Shoretire is another who could end up being permanently promoted to first-team training, depending on what happens with other senior players on deadline day.

Everton appear to have won the race to sign midfielder Van de Beek, who had also been linked with Crystal Palace, with a loan move anticipated, while Jones' move to Bordeaux is still thought to be alive.

Other players who could end up moving before the window closes include Jesse Lingard and Dean Henderson, both of whom have been linked with Newcastle United, but Premier League loan rules mean they are not permitted to loan in two players from the same parent club.

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