MANCHESTER United are sending cautious messages out about any January transfer activity. There’s not a fan who wouldn’t want to see a new signing or two, but the club’s line is that they have a list of players they want and that if any of them come available in January then they’ll act.

United don’t want to panic buy, don’t want to be stung into action just because. The signing of Alexis Sanchez two years ago was a disaster which changed the way United do transfers, yet it was celebrated at the time on several levels. Throwing money at big names hasn’t worked but then it was felt United had acquired a top class player for a minimal fee (and a massive wage) and stopped City getting him.

It also sated millions of United fans utterly addicted to signing new players. They’d praised Louis van Gaal for clearing out the deadwood and signing plentiful new ones but they were wrong. Very good players who have prospered elsewhere were prematurely lost in the Dutchman’s talent purge.

Solskjær knows we need to strengthen & he’s made that publicly known but he’s right in saying we will not buy for the sake of it. He’s prioritised two midfield signings and rightly so. Hopefully we can make that happen in January.

— Josh (@ManUnitedMedia) December 31, 2019

A new signing would give a similar sugar hit now, just as Juan Mata did in 2014, but would it be right? Asked about signings after the defeat at Arsenal, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “That will give us less options and we’ve got loads of games, important games. But still, it’s got to be right and that’s the big point here. And if it’s available and it’s possible we’ll do something definitely, we’re looking at one or two.’

United know they are short in midfield. The sheer number of games dictates the need for a big squad. United played nine games last month, winning six, drawing two and losing at Watford. That form was sufficient for Solskjaer to be nominated for manager of the month. There will be seven or eight games this month – and tough ones too against Wolves, City twice and Liverpool.

The club would rather under promise and over deliver, but transfer windows are for signing players. That’s why they exist. And they exist to help a team with injuries, just as United have now to Paul Pogba for “three to four weeks” (and a lot of fans simply don’t believe that to be true) and Scott McTominay for a couple of months.

“Judge the recruitment department in the coming windows where hopefully we can get a team to be at the level where we want to be,” said Ed Woodward when I asked him about United’s failed recruitment in October. 

That window is open now and there’s pressure on United to buy, but United didn't sign a single player in the last January window and they think it’s a difficult month to buy since the best clubs don’t want to lose their best players. Players who are in the Champions League also don’t want to drop down to a team in the Europa League. This is another price to pay for missing out on the top competition. 

So that leaves those cast adrift or out of favour. The club looked at striker Mario Mandzukic at Juventus, but he goes against the current turn to youth. He'd not even been playing before he joined Qatari side Al-Duhail this month. Juventus will also let Emre Can go.

Christian Eriksen, bizarrely spotted in Manchester last week near the Etihad, was of interest to United in the summer but the club were under the impression that he wanted to play in Spain. Jack Grealish would be welcome, but Villa might as well concede relegation if they allow him to leave.

Man Utd are interested in signing Benfica midfielder Gedson Fernandes in the January transfer window. His representatives have been in the UK attempting to broker a loan deal with a £34m option to buy. [Sky Sports] pic.twitter.com/dGicptCqbg

— Transfer News (@TransfersLlVE) December 30, 2019

You also have agents looking at United’s financial strength and past profligacy and trying to extort ridiculous amounts for their players and themselves. United’s rebuild is slow one. “It’s hard enough to get three players done in a transfer window,” said Woodward. “To get six or seven done is extremely difficult if you are getting proper talent.”

Rival clubs seem not to have the same problem. Barça signed four and Madrid six last summer when United signed three players – and that was against seven leaving in 2019. True, players like Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams have risen through the ranks, but the squad looks short and not only because of injuries.

Too many are inconsistent, including some of the most talented ones like Anthony Martial. Jesse Lingard doesn’t score or assist. Younger players are naturally inconsistent, but the senior players aren’t performing well enough. Fred is playing too often in a key position. The defence still lacks leadership and, after a promising start, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof’s partnership looks shaky. Luke Shaw is back from injury but he isn’t playing well, David de Gea is making too many errors.

Demands are high. United are in four competitions, though they have such an appalling record at Wolves that the FA Cup run could end on Saturday evening as they travel to Molineux for the fourth time in 10 months. It’s a stinking draw at a ground with an away end where the atmosphere struggles to get going.

Solskjaer’s view is that progress is being made and that there will be setbacks. He wants patience and support and he’s getting both, yet there’s an impatience and frustration which follows every defeat, even if they’re set against a run of promising results. United have lost a game in every month of the season so far and they will lose more.

If United can sign one of the players they’re keen to get in the summer this month then it will be a boost for all. Yes, there are always external circumstances and it doesn’t help when scores of players are linked to Old Trafford by outlets who know it’s an easy click bait article, but it’s clear for everyone to see that United need strengthening now while their season remains vey much alive.