Manchester United’s transfer window was not a great one for all concerned. We compiled a list of five winners and five losers, reflecting on the club’s January.
For some of them, the misery was compounded on Wednesday night as Erik ten Hag named his matchday squad for the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.
There was no place for Anthony Elanga, Zidane Iqbal, or Brandon Williams even on the bench.
All three were denied loan moves, and to fail to make the squad against Nottingham Forest for a Carabao Cup semi-final in which United already held a 3-0 advantage, only serve to highlight their troubles.
READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loan deals for January 2023
Double blow for United trio
Anthony Elanga was the unluckiest of all three. He provided an assist as a substitute for Manchester United in the first leg.
He even started the Carabao Cup quarter-final. But with Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial back in the United match day squad, there was no room for Elanga.
Having started the season as part of the United set up, Elanga has been overtaken by Alejandro Garnacho and now Facundo Pellistri.
Keeping him as insurance up front is understandable, but with 10 offers from clubs including Dortmund and PSV, the youngster may reflect on a missed opportunity.
Zidane Iqbal was another midfielder kept as an insurance policy. But with Christian Eriksen, Marcel Sabitzer and Scott McTominay all unavailable, he still could not make the bench.
There is a risk Iqbal goes through the season without playing a single game. He certainly seems a long way off right now.
Brandon Williams was always a long shot, but he did make the squad at the weekend for the FA Cup game with Reading, where he was an unused substitute.
The full-back also failed to land a loan move, and then received another unhappy reality check with his omission last night.
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