Bad news, Manchester United fans: things might not get much better anytime soon.
After another damaging defeat at home to Newcastle on Monday, new manager Ruben Amorim admitted he doesn't have much at his disposal to improve things in January.
So any solution will have to be quite creative to improve on United's worst six-loss month since September 1930.
But what can they do, who arrives and who is pushed out the door? Here, as part of our series on Premier League clubs' January transfer plans, our United expert Chris Wheeler answers the five big questions.
1. What does Manchester United need?
A lot, judging by the miserable run of results that has sent United to the brink of the relegation battle.
A left wing-back is one of the priorities after right-footer Diogo Dalot had to come on as Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia returned from long-term injuries. Shaw could well become a central defender in Ruben Amorim's 3-4-3 system when he returns to full fitness.
A striker feels like an extra necessity, with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee having only scored five goals between them in the Premier League this season. Zirkzee's confidence appears to have been hit after fans cheered his first-half substitution against Newcastle on Monday evening.
United will struggle to make much business in January, but a midfielder and possibly reserve goalkeeper would be interesting if deals can be done.
2. Do they have money to spend?
Not really. Having spent £600 million under Erik ten Hag, his replacement Amorim knows there is not much left to get the players he wants.
After the defeat to Newcastle he said: 'We don't have that option in January. It's not like I get here and can spend a lot of money on changing the whole team. You know the situation, so there's little point in talking about it.'
After making losses of £300 million over the past three years, United struggled to meet the PSR even before paying out more than £20 million to replace Ten Hag and his staff with the new Portuguese coaching team.
They will have to sell to buy, or at least enter into a loan agreement with an obligation to buy at the end.
3. Which players are they interested in?
The main target at left wing-back is Nuno Mendes, who played for Amorim for two years at Sporting Lisbon. Mendes is at Paris Saint-Germain, who are looking to extend his contract but may be willing to sell the 22-year-old if he hesitates to re-sign.
Amorim is keen to sign a contract in January, even though United have completed a deal to sign Paraguayan left-back Diego Leon from Cerro Porteno for £3million in the summer.
A striker will be harder to sign in January but United have been linked with Victor Osimhen, who is currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli. There is a clause in the deal that could allow Napoli to recall Osimhen in January and sell him if the right offer comes in, but United sources believe they are unlikely to be able to sign someone with his profile and salary at this stage.
If back-up goalkeeper Altay Bayindir leaves in search of first-team football, United are said to have eyed Royal Antwerp's Senne Lammens as a possible rival for Andre Onana.
4. Who could leave?
Due to the growing crisis at United, almost everyone is for sale at the right price, with a few exceptions.
Homegrown players such as Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo count for 100 percent on the PSR balance and are therefore worth approximately four times as much as their teammates.
United listened to offers for Rashford, one of their highest earners on £315,000-a-week, who was left out of four games before returning to the bench against Newcastle. It may have to be a move with a purchase obligation at the end of the season, as was the case with Jadon Sancho's move to Chelsea in the summer.
United have been keen to get rid of top earner Casemiro for some time, as well as £82m flop Antony, while Zirkzee has also been linked with a quick exit after his difficult start at Old Trafford.
Other players such as Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof could leave, but their contracts expire this summer and they are unlikely to demand a fee.
5. What unexpected moves should fans keep an eye on?
Despite all the noise surrounding Rashford, Garnacho's value is actually greater, based on his higher transfer fee and lower wages. United could sell him for more without the problem of paying off a huge contract with three and a half years left to run.
Like Rashford, Garnacho has fallen out of favor under Amorim, playing the last four games off the bench after also being left out for the Manchester derby.
After previously being considered untouchable under Ten Hag, the Argentina winger is less suitable for Amorim's 3-4-3. United are still unlikely to sell him, but a combination of factors would at least see United give any offer some consideration.
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