There has been a lot of talk over the last few weeks of what Manchester United can do in the transfer market in 2025.

Unfortunately, the honest answer is: not a lot.

United are right on the edge of profit and sustainability rules. They even got fined earlier this year for a minor breach.

So, anything they do will have to be smart – something they haven’t demonstrated they are capable of since the excellent David Gill stood down in 2013 with Alex Ferguson.

They’ll have to sell players, or let their contracts expire, before doing anything. And even then, they will have to utilise free agents, release clauses and look to youth to get the players they need.

Not all of my ideas will pay off. Some free agents will sign new contracts, some players will prove too expensive. But if United can secure even one or two of these targets in 2025, they will have achieved the absolute no.1 priority: not to make things worse.