Manchester United will look to offload players before considering arrivals to their squad in the January transfer window under Ralf Rangnick.

Rangnick, 63, is set to be appointed interim manager at Old Trafford for the rest of the season and will have one transfer window during his term but is unlikely to make major changes to United’s squad. 

Donny van de Beek and Dean Henderson, who have not featured heavily this season, will be considered for moves which would allow Rangnick to freshen up a squad that has dropped into mid-table. Jesse Lingard is more likely to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was backed in the transfer window by United’s owners before his dismissal last week and the squad he built will be what Rangnick is expected to work with for his brief time as manager before two years as a consultant to the club.   

United strengthened their squad with Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho in the summer before their dramatic late move for Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to the club, with those signings expected to be their major transfers of the season.  

Moving players out who are under long-term contracts may not be easy, although players such as Van de Beek have lost their place in their national teams heading into a World Cup year. The Dutch midfielder has not started a Premier League game this season and was only recalled to the team under caretaker manager Michael Carrick. 

Dean Henderson has missed a chunk of the season after suffering with Covid-19 and David De Gea is back as first-choice with his performances one of the only positive aspects to United’s recent slump in form. 

Lingard, meanwhile, has also failed to hold down a place in the team after returning from his loan at West Ham last season. He has seven months left on his contract and Newcastle United, Everton, West Ham and AC Milan are looking at the possibility of a free transfer.