Manchester United may consider a last-minute signing after their match against Arsenal, with Carrick involved in negotiations! The chance of Aoki returning is almost zero.

The winter transfer window will shut on February 2nd, with just over a week remaining. According to transfer analyst Ben Jacobs, following the high-profile match against Arsenal, Manchester United might consider adding a new player before the window closes. The club did not make significant moves in January, only some youth departures, yet a last-minute transfer could still happen.

Jacobs explained: "As far as I know, Ruben Loftus-Cheek is more likely to join Aston Villa than Manchester United. United did approach him, but no further talks took place. Wilfred Ndidi from Besiktas was a player United monitored during the summer window, with rumors of a possible loan including an option to buy. Therefore, it’s important to keep an eye on United’s moves at the end of the window, as they might surprise us with midfield activity."

Simon Stone, the authoritative expert from BBC, emphasized that United will only sign players in the winter window if it aligns with their long-term strategy. This explains why the club genuinely tried to bring in Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth, whereas AC Milan’s Cheick did not attract the Red Devils’ interest as much.

According to the original plan, Carrick will only coach Manchester United until the end of this season. Thus, while winter transfers will directly affect his tenure, deals made after the season conclude may not involve him. Carrick stated he will take part in transfer negotiations, but the extent of his involvement remains unclear.

Before the Premier League match against Arsenal, Carrick said: "Over the past week or so, I haven’t overly focused on long-term future plans. My attention is on the current games, and any decisions made by me, my staff, or the club are not just for this season. Whatever happens down the line, I have a responsibility to ensure everything moves in the right direction and that the right choices are made. I believe I will continue to be involved as time goes on, and together we will overcome challenges."

David Ornstein from "The Athletic" said Carrick indeed has a chance to be appointed permanently at Manchester United. "Carrick’s results will directly influence whether he’s considered, but I don’t see it as an all-or-nothing scenario like Solskjaer’s case. United will handle this step-by-step, communicating with the right coaches, thoroughly evaluating the current manager’s performance, and considering data alongside coaching style and traits." Ornstein explained, "Carrick can earn his opportunity through his performance, or he may decide that now isn’t the right moment."

Ornstein concluded: "There is no confirmed news yet; everything is still speculation. But considering Carrick’s capabilities, his brief spell at United, and his record at Middlesbrough, he is certainly worthy of consideration, similar to Kieran McKenna before. Carrick might be in the running, but that doesn’t guarantee he will get the role. For now, everyone just has to wait and watch how things unfold."

This week, Pete O’Rourke from "Football Insider" claimed that sources told him United’s top management is discussing the possibility of re-signing Mason Greenwood. It’s said that when United sold Aoki, they included a buy-back clause, allowing them to re-sign him for just £42 million.

In over a season with Marseille, Greenwood scored 42 goals and provided 12 assists in 63 appearances. His performances have sparked various transfer rumors and debates about whether Tuchel should call him up to the England squad. However, Tuchel is reluctant to make such a controversial decision, as he is not short of right-wing options.

The rumors about Greenwood reportedly stem from Marseille’s Champions League match against Liverpool midweek, which ended in a 0-3 defeat. English media had no chance to hype this player, which led to the resurfacing of United’s rumored interest in re-signing Aoki. Who said this? Sources! These "sources" could be anything from a stadium staff member to just anyone, but certainly not official club personnel.

Some English media figures angrily accused O’Rourke of fabricating stories under his social media posts, insisting there is zero internal discussion at United about Aoki’s return. It must be made clear: United re-signing Aoki is absolutely impossible. Besides his controversial nature, the right-wing position at the Red Devils is the least lacking, with Mbemou signed for £71 million and Amad Diallo for £39 million.

Fans believe young players deserve a second chance, and Aoki has had his, having proven himself again at Getafe and Marseille. But that doesn’t mean United must bring him back. It’s like an ordinary worker who made mistakes and was fired from a company; they can start anew elsewhere but cannot demand to return to their previous employer.

United will hope Aoki performs well and joins other big clubs for a high fee, since the club retains 40% of his economic rights and can earn a share from his transfer. The Manchester Evening News reports that the final buyer might be a team outside the Premier League, such as Atletico Madrid, which will sign Aoki. United will receive 40% of the fee, while Getafe, facing financial difficulties, will sell their 20% stake.

The Manchester Evening News states that United is considering purchasing Getafe’s 20% ownership of Greenwood and hopes to complete the deal for £5 million.