Carrick’s Winter Wake-Up Call: United Shuts the Door on January Buys
14 January 2026
A disappointing transfer window.
Michael Carrick, the newly appointed Manchester United manager, received the club’s first sharp blow from the board after being named caretaker until the end of the season.
ESPN sources say Carrick will have to work with the current squad, as the club has closed the door on transfers during the January window.
He will be tasked with lifting the side from its trough using only available players, with results slumping after one win in the last seven across competitions.
Despite recognizing the need to reinforce midfield options, sources say the club will not sign short‑term fixes, with targets now linked to Adam Worton (Crystal Palace), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest) and Carlos Baliba (Brighton).
This setback arrives as United’s hierarchy insist Carrick has enough depth to navigate the remaining 17 Premier League matches; they point to the return of injured players and the near‑full strength of the squad for a looming City clash.
Meanwhile, Carrick is unlikely to lose any of his current starters, with departures in January described as unlikely; Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ogarte and Koby Maino are expected to remain in United’s ranks.
In short, Carrick’s chapter reads like a tightrope walk, with no players, no excuses, and a City clash looming. The squad must improvise, and fans hoping for miracles may settle for resilience and surprises ahead.
Punchline 1: If patience is a virtue, United fans are saints—because this January, virtue got a lot of cardio and zero signings.
Punchline 2: Carrick’s plan? “Let’s defend, rotate, and pretend the transfer window was just a rumor.” Spoiler: the rumor is still loud and the calendar is louder.
