The January transfer window is beginning to look like an oasis in the desert for Manchester United. A place of sanctuary still in the distance, with miles of scorching sand they'll have to drag themselves over in between.
January is still months away but an injury crisis for the ages, off-field issues and a massively under-performing squad has meant United have never had to drink from the winter well as much.
There was an uplifting late comeback against Brentford before the international break but that hardly turns things around. The performance for 84 minutes was just as abject as the rest in a season in which they've lost nearly half as many Premier League games as the last in a quarter of the matches.
Even if funds remain extremely limited after a year of excessive spending, the transfer window will offer Erik ten Hag the chance to recruit in troubled positions.
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