Manchester United can only sign one midfielder in the January transfer window, with a willingness to pay £26 million! Amorebieta has given up on competing for Semedo.

The 25-year-old English midfielder Conor Gallagher has indicated his readiness to transfer to Manchester United in January, hoping to rejoin Tuchel’s national squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Gallagher might be the most affordable signing for the Red Devils this winter since the main targets are nearly impossible to acquire, and other substitutes come with high price tags.

Elliott Anderson, Adam Walton, and Carlos Baleba have long been among Manchester United’s most admired midfield candidates, but these players are not only costly but also unavailable during the winter window, and even next summer they face competition from other top clubs.

Gallagher’s situation is different; besides attracting Manchester United’s attention in the Premier League, he is reportedly also favored by Serie A clubs. However, former Premier League star Keith Wyness told "Football Insider" that if Gallagher leaves Atlético Madrid, Manchester United would be the only destination he would consider. Under Diego Simeone this season, Gallagher has fallen out of favor, with limited playing time threatening his chances of participating in next summer’s World Cup.

Transfer expert Pete O’Rourke also revealed that Atlético Madrid is willing to let Gallagher leave if the price is right. However, Atlético prefers a sale and has lowered the asking fee, with £26 million being enough to secure Gallagher. This amount represents the minimum budget Amorebieta has set for strengthening the midfield in January.

O’Rourke explained: "For Gallagher himself, driven by his desire to make Tuchel’s World Cup squad, he might consider moving in January. He has missed the last three England squad selections under Tuchel. He believes he needs to leave to find consistent starting opportunities and get back into Tuchel’s consideration, aiming for a final chance to participate in the World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico next summer."

Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano also confirmed that Atlético Madrid is open to selling Gallagher in the winter window but is not keen on a loan deal, preferring a permanent transfer. The situation mirrors the summer window’s final moments when Manchester United chose to abandon the pursuit and instead spent money on signing goalkeeper Senna Lamens.

Whether Manchester United will make signings in January is also closely tied to the status of existing players, including the future of Kobe Meno. Football Insider reports that Manchester United has consistently emphasized they do not want Meno to leave; however, if he insists on transferring or the club finds a great opportunity to sign an ideal midfield reinforcement early in January, letting him go is not entirely impossible.

Meno has not started any Premier League games this season, and the upcoming midweek double fixtures will be crucial for him to assess his future. Casemiro played the full match against Crystal Palace, and with the home game against West Ham on Thursday, Amorebieta will need to rotate players. If the young Red Devils prospect still does not get significant playing time, he will conclude that his prospects are bleak and decide to leave.

In other positions, the likelihood of Manchester United signing players in January is even lower. Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, recently linked with Manchester United and other big clubs, is unlikely to join the Red Devils. The 25-year-old has appeared 12 times in the Premier League this season, scoring 6 goals and providing 3 assists. His contract includes a £65 million release clause effective in January, with Liverpool and Manchester City reportedly the most interested.

Romano stated that Manchester United also admires Semenyo but is currently prioritizing other positions. "At this stage, Manchester United is not actively negotiating with Semenyo because their current focus is investing in other areas, such as signing a new midfielder. So, they do like Semenyo, and Amorebieta certainly likes him too, but their primary targets are players in other positions. Both Liverpool and Manchester City are well aware of Semenyo’s release clause, so keep a close eye on developments as nothing is decided yet. Semenyo’s transfer is still unresolved."

ESPN expert Rob Dawson, looking ahead to Manchester United’s January transfer prospects, said: "I think it’s possible. The message we’ve consistently received from Manchester United is that signing the right player is important, but equally important is avoiding the wrong signing. Also, due to the unique nature of the January window, there is concern it will be a seller’s market. Everyone understands that January transfers are prone to mistakes, and they definitely don’t want to fall into that trap. Spending some money in January and ending up with an unsuccessful signing could reduce the funds reserved for Anderson or Walton in the summer."