With injuries to players like Luke Shaw, an off-field argument between Jadon Sancho and Erik ten Hag, and underwhelming performances on the pitch, Manchester United has already seen everything that might go wrong this season in the Premier League.
The Red Devils have lost twice in their last four games, first to Tottenham Hotspur and then to Arsenal in North London. Their two victories, however, have been far from convincing; on the first day, they defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers by a narrow margin, and then they had to overcome Nottingham Forest by two goals.
Ten Hag has been compelled by United’s current situation to focus on the January transfer window, and one specific star is considering making what would be a record-breaking move out of his current club.
What recent transfers are happening at Manchester United?
Throughout the summer, United checked a lot of boxes. Together with Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat, they added midfield depth and welcomed Andre Onana, a custodian of the current era. They also signed Rasmus Hojlund, a forward from Atalanta, to round up their transfer window. However, after four games, the Red Devils’ performance has been disastrous.
However, it’s evident that additional support is required, and Rico Henry of Brentford may be that support. Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke claims that in what might be a club-record deal, Brentford might take an offer for their left-back that exceeds £35 million.
A move to United would be exactly the kind of major move that the defender is rumoured to be interested in. Although they couldn’t afford a long-term contract, the Red Devils were allegedly interested in Henry during the summer transfer window as well. It will be intriguing to watch whether United puts Brentford to the test in January and whether Henry advocates for leaving the Bees.
How has this season’s Rico Henry fared?
This season, Brentford has again started the Premier League strongly, going undefeated in four games, drawing with Spurs, Crystal Palace, and Bournemouth, and even winning against Fulham. And starting in every game, Henry has contributed significantly to that run.
During his time with the Bees, the left-back has received a great deal of well-deserved acclaim. One such compliment came from Thomas Frank, who told the BBC: “I actually haven’t seen a player or winger in the last two years in the Premier League that got the better of him on the defensive side, one-on-one actions.”
“He is really strong in these one-on-one fights; maybe they got a cross in. He moves quite quickly and is in a great position. The next stage for him would be to only slightly increase his output in terms of goals and assists. But he’s also a great example of a man of integrity who works really hard and will overcome any obstacle for the team.”
January might be a fascinating month to watch for possible additions to Old Trafford, especially considering Henry’s talent and United’s interest.
