So far, so predictable. The emphasis was always going to be on outgoings at Manchester United this month and there have been four low-level departures.

Jadon Sancho identified Borussia Dortmund as an escape route as far back as September and returned “home” last week. Donny van de Beek played fewer minutes for United than Sancho this season and will hope for a new start after his New Year’s Day move to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Sergio Reguilon was back where he belongs on Sunday – at the head of the Tottenham squad sheet on the matchday programme – and Hannibal Mejbri is gone for now.

There are options to buy Van de Beek and Mejbri but not Sancho. It is in United’s interests that all three perform so they remain with their new clubs permanently. The changes Sir Jim Ratcliffe is about to oversee would be undermined by the sight of Van de Beek at Carrington on the first day of pre-season training in July.

United have temporarily streamlined their squad for the remainder of the season. With Mejbri gone, there is not an identifiable playmaker alternative to Bruno Fernandes but, seeing as Fernandes has never missed a United game through injury and Mejbri did not make them play with the ball, an initial loan was permissible.

Mason Mount is another option behind the striker and his prospects of a starting spot in midfield have receded in recent months. Days after Mount sustained the calf injury he is yet to recover from, Kobbie Mainoo made his full Premier League debut at Everton and was the man of the match.

As it stands, United will have a 26-man senior squad of three goalkeepers and 23 outfield players for a run-in that could consist of 22 games if they progress in the FA Cup, where they already have a borderline bye to the fifth round.

United usually draft an academy graduate into the senior squad midway through a season and Willy Kambwala has been a fixture in matchday squads over the last month. Omari Forson got some exposure with a debut at Wigan and a bench spot against Tottenham last week.

Dan Gore should have permission to head out on loan with Erik ten Hag set to have a full midfield department to choose from in February. Gore was not among the substitutes against Tottenham when United had two ‘keepers on the bench.

A decision has to be made on Facundo Pellistri, particularly with Alejandro Garnacho currently occupying the right-hand side, but United have a shortage of forwards and only two have tallied at least five goals.

Anthony Martial was injured for almost the entirety of the summer transfer window and was thus unsellable. He has been unwell and then injured for the entirety of the winter transfer window and is thus unsellable. That blocks United from making a mid-season loan move for a striker a la Wout Weghorst, Odion Ighalo or Henrik Larsson.

So far, so predictable from Martial.

Probable United squad post-January

Goalkeepers: Onana, Bayindir, Heaton

Defenders: Dalot, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Lindelof, Maguire, Evans, Shaw, Malacia

Midfielders: Casemiro, Mainoo, Amrabat, Mount, McTominay, Eriksen, Fernandes

Forwards: Antony, Amad, Pellistri, Garnacho, Rashford, Hojlund, Martial