The January transfer window will mark Ruben Amorim's first chance to put his own stamp of authority on the Manchester United squad he inherited from Erik ten Hag.

The mid-season window will officially open for business next Wednesday, marking the beginning of a month of speculation, endless rumours and over-priced deals getting done.

However, United, just like in recent years, are not expected to attack the window with a vengeance. There will not be a war chest available to Amorim, meaning the chances of him adding to his squad will rest on outgoings.

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Ten Hag did not oversee a permanent addition in either of the two January windows that he oversaw during his premiership. United loaned in Jack Butland, Marcel Sabitzer and Wout Weghorst in 2023, but the dressing room did not welcome any fresh faces 12 months later.

United, in their ongoing fight to remain within the boundaries of the financial rules, will have to sell to buy in January. Marcus Rashford's future could open up a window of opportunity, perhaps.

As a result, Amorim's hopes of adding to his squad might be put on hold until the summer. Already, positions which he should be looking to add to are being identified by supporters and journalists alike.

There is an increasing need for a striker and the wing-back department needs upgrading. Talk of the centre-back pool needing to be added to has also cropped up in conversations in the last couple of weeks or so.

Beyond obvious improvements being required in the starting XI, other areas within the squad need upgrading, including the goalkeeping department. United revamped their options between the sticks in the summer of 2023, drafting in Andre Onana from Inter Milan and Altay Bayindir from Fenerbahce.

Onana directly succeeded David de Gea as United's No.1 and Bayindir was signed to offer cover that had been provided by loanees Martin Dubravka and Butland in 2022/23. The duo, just as De Gea, Dubravka and Butland were, continue to be supported by veteran Tom Heaton, who occupies third spot in the goalkeeping pecking order.

As experienced and knowledgable as Heaton is, he will turn 39 in April. His contract is up at the end of this season and you have to question how long it may be before he decides to call time on his playing career.

Bayindir, who will turn 27 the day before Heaton turns 39, has barely played since joining United in September 2023, making just four appearances, the most recent of which was against Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup last week. He had a night to forget in the capital, meaning he did little to strengthen his chances of wrestling the gloves off Onana, after the Cameroonian's recent errors.

A lot was made of Onana's mistakes in the 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest and then the 2-1 win over Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League, but a couple of mistakes should not mask just how much progress the former Inter Milan shot-stopper has made since his arrival in July 2023.

Still more than 12 months away from celebrating his 30th birthday, Onana, in goalkeeping terms, is about to enter his peak years. It is not unrealistic to suggest he could remain United's first-choice shot-stopper for another five or six years.

In Bayindir, however, United do not have a No.2 at the required standard. Granted, we have not seen an awful lot of him since he moved to Old Trafford, but he has not looked overly convincing when he has occupied the gloves.

As a caveat, that can be expected when a goalkeeper does not earn regular minutes, but United are entitled to expect better. His performance against Spurs was littered with errors on what was forgettable night for both goalkeepers.

Linked with the likes of Hull City and Rangers in recent months, it is evident Bayindir is not at the required standard to be Onana's deputy, making the addition of a new second-choice goalkeeper an important transfer objective for the United hierarchy in 2025.

It is not a transfer objective that is likely to get supporters on the edge of their seats or licking their lips, but it is one that will demand attention. Onana has played a lot of football since joining United, rarely being rotated with Bayindir, and that cannot be healthy.

United, although it is likely to be a long way off, should already been thinking about a succession plan for Onana.