Manchester United are set to have a quiet month as things stand - although that could possibly change.

The club have no room to manoeuvre in the transfer market this January having spent £206million on five signings over the summer. Further compensation packages have not helped the club’s position within spending limits either.

United paid out around £3m to Newcastle United for sporting director Dan Ashworth this summer before he was sacked just months later. Erik ten Hag is meanwhile due around £17m in compensation after his dismissal while United forked out several million to buy Ruben Amorim out of his Sporting CP contract.

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As for on the field, United’s dire form has left them just seven points above the relegation zone. They are in desperate need of reinforcement but will only be able to bring players in if they sell some current options.

Rashford ‘prefers’ Spain move

Marcus Rashford has been heavily linked with a move away since being left out of successive matchday squads in December before the attacker expressed his desire for a “new challenge”.

Rashford has denied rumours that he has been initiating contact with other clubs - but the Times claims the academy graduate would prefer to move to Spain if he is to leave Manchester.

Moves to Barcelona and more so Real Madrid seem very unlikely but United are open to both loan and full purchase offers, the report adds. Furthermore, it says Ruben Amorim deems January a suitable time to cash in on the 27-year-old.

MEN Sport says: Given United will not be able to acquire anyone unless they sell, the club could bite the bullet in order to change fortunes on the field. Ultimately, there are very few reasons for the club to keep Rashford at present.

The issue is that few clubs could afford his bloated wages mid-season. United allowing him to leave on loan and cover his wages in full would further damage the club's financial position. An permanent exit for Rashford could have much bigger implications…

Adidas ‘could end’ £900m kit deal

The Telegraph claims Adidas have the right to end their £900m kit sponsorship deal with United should they get relegated from the Premier League. Although unthinkable, Amorim has admitted it is “a possibility” that United get drawn into a relegation scrap.

Adidas agreed a 10-year £90m-a-season deal with United in 2023 to be the club’s kit supplier, inserting a clause that gave them an exit route should United ever not be a top-flight club. They also have the option of halving the deal to £45m-a-season if wanted.

Under the terms, United are already set to lose £10m for next season upon failure to qualify for the Champions League. The club currently sits 14th in the table but could be sucked down to 15th should they lose to Liverpool on Sunday and Crystal Palace beat Chelsea the day prior.

MEN Sport says: Relegation talk is being somewhat over-dramatised but the fact United look like they could lose to anyone right now makes such chat more real. The admission from the head coach about a potential relegation scrap is alarming.

United clearly need reinforcement in January and only sales will allow for arrivals to come in, hence why an imminent Rashford exit is apparently being considered. The ship is currently sinking at Old Trafford and those not contributing to the rescue mission need to make way for those who could potentially change the tide and save United’s blushes.