Sir Alex Ferguson had a clear stance on the January transfer window during his Manchester United tenure
Sir Alex Ferguson previously warned against clubs pinning their hopes on big-money signings in the January transfer window. Manchester United have been linked with numerous deals in the New Year, but the legendary boss told teams to steer clear of high-profile moves during the winter window.
Ruben Amorim’s squad are pursuing a return to Champions League action but trail fourth-placed Liverpool by two points, with their rivals potentially widening the margin in their clash with Leeds on Thursday evening. While there have been encouraging signs during the season, United’s latest draw with Wolves served as a stark reminder to supporters of their team’s weaknesses.
The transfer window presents Amorim with an opportunity to bolster his squad for this season and beyond. However, Ferguson had previously explained why he believed that securing major deals in January was not worth the gamble.
Back in 2012, Ferguson declared that no high-profile January recruit had ever delivered immediate impact. “I’ve never seen it work, a player come in January, sign for big money and settle before the start of next season,” the United manager told The Independent.
He continued: “To go into the market in January you never get full value, people think you’re desperate so ask for more.”
Throughout his tenure, Ferguson largely adhered to his own advice, despite two of his most successful signings arriving in early 2006. Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra were acquired for a total of £12.5million from their respective clubs but they didn’t immediately shine, taking time to find their feet at Old Trafford.
While the success of expensive January signings is varied, there are notable exceptions, such as United captain Bruno Fernandes. Focusing on the current transfer window, it has been reported that United have compiled a shortlist of eight central midfielders to strengthen Amorim’s squad.
According to the Daily Mail, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson tops the club’s wishlist, although a deal seems unlikely as his team fights against relegation. Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton were both strongly linked with United during the summer.
Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher has previously been suggested as a potential target. Additionally, Everton’s James Garner has been linked with a return to Old Trafford.
Other possibilities mentioned in the report include Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams, Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes and Portugal international Ruben Neves, who currently plays for Al-Hilal. Whether United choose to splash out in January remains to be seen, but Amorim has been lacking midfield options in recent weeks.
Injuries to Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo saw United pair Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte in midfield against Wolves, with young talent Jack Fletcher brought on after half-time. Ferguson would support Amorim using the club’s academy players to address the midfield issue, rather than seeking a costly solution in the January transfer window.
One of the few exceptions Ferguson made during his tenure was the signing of Louis Saha from Fulham in early 2004. The striker quickly justified his £12.85m fee by netting seven goals in his first 14 games.
Veteran forward Henrik Larsson was also recruited on a short-term loan in 2007 as Ferguson sought an immediate boost. However, most of his January dealings were centred around securing long-term prospects.
Wilfried Zaha became the final signing of the Ferguson era when he sealed his £10m move from Crystal Palace in January 2013. Seen as a future prospect, he was immediately loaned back to Palace. In the following season, Zaha only made four appearances during his single campaign at United before returning to Palace on a permanent basis that summer.
2026-01-01 12:29:48
