After a’verbal agreement,’ the Man Utd board rejected Ralf Rangnick on his departure and £33 million signing.

MANCHESTER UNITED failed to add any new players in the January transfer window…

Despite Ralf Rangnick agreeing to at least one signing and departure, both of which were seemingly rejected by the club’s leadership last month, the Manchester United board had the last say on any possible incomings and exits. Following a rocky start to life in the Old Trafford hotseat, the interim manager has been working hard to turn United’s season around and was open to improving the squad if possible.

United, on the other hand, has made it clear that they would not make any new signings in the winter transfer window because they have yet to decide on a new manager.

The club’s executives want to put a stop to all spending and recruitment until they have a new boss in place, so they can sign players that fit his philosophy and identity.

There is an understanding that United now need to nail their summer business in order to close the gap on Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea.

Yet Rangnick was in fact keen on adding at least one player to his squad in the form of Amadou Haidara.

The Mirror reported that the former RB Leipzig boss had a verbal agreement in place with his former side over a £33million deal for Amadou Haidara.

United had other ideas though and instead swerved a deal that was also explored by Newcastle.

Although Haidara would have plugged a big gap in United’s squad, those upstairs relayed that they wanted to wait until the summer before splashing any cash.

Haidara was keen on the move too, having supported United as a boy but for now, he will stay with Leipzig.

The board also intervened to block a late outgoing too after Jesse Lingard came close to joining Newcastle.

He had been a target for the Magpies all window but had effectively been priced out of a move to Tyneside as United demanded a substantial loan fee (£12m).

The asking price was then slashed on deadline day but after Rangnick gave Lingard his blessing to depart, the United board intervened.

Having already loaned Anthony Martial and Donny van de Beek to Sevilla and Everton, there was a feeling that the club were significantly weakening their squad.

While it is expected that Lingard will leave when his contract expires at the end of the season, he will not be leaving for the time being.

Instead, he could get the minutes he was promised by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when he was informed he had a future at United at the start of the season.

Lingard hasn’t played much since then, despite an outstanding second half of the season on loan at West Ham in 2020/21, when he forced his way back into England’s thoughts.