Bad news, Manchester United fans: things may not get much better anytime soon.
After another damaging home defeat to Newcastle on Monday, new manager Ruben Amorim admitted he does not 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 month since September 1930, losing six times.
But what can they do, who could arrive and who could be expelled? Here, as part of our series looking at 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 unfortunate run of results that have left United on the sidelines of the relegation battle.
Manchester United are in terrible form heading into the January transfer window.
Rubén Amorim (right) admitted that he does not have much at his disposal to improve things
A left-back is one of the priorities after right-footer Diogo Dalot has had to replace him while Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia return from long-term injuries. It is very possible that Shaw will end up as a central defender in Rubén Amorim's 3-4-3 system when he returns to full fitness.
A striker feels like another need, with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee having scored just five Premier League goals between them so far this season. Zirkzee's confidence appears to be waning after fans cheered his first-half substitution against Newcastle on Monday night.
United will struggle to do much business in January but a midfielder and possibly a back-up goalkeeper would be of interest if deals can be struck.
2. Do they have money to spend?
Not precisely. After spending £600m on Erik ten Hag, his replacement Amorim knows there isn't much left to get the players he wants.
Speaking after the defeat to Newcastle, he said: “We don't have that chance in January. It's not like I come here and can spend a lot of money changing the whole team. “As you know the situation, there's not much point in talking about it.
Having made losses of £300m over the past three years, United were struggling to comply with the PSR even before paying more than £20m to replace Ten Hag and his staff with the new Portuguese coaching team.
They will have to sell to buy or at least agree loan agreements with an obligation to buy at the end.
After spending £600m with Erik ten Hag, Amorim knows there isn't much left to spend
United will have to sell to buy, or at least agree loan deals with an obligation to buy at the end.
3. What players are you interested in?
The main target at left back is Nuno Mendes, who played for Amorim for two years at Sporting Lisbon. Mendes is at Paris Saint-Germain and wants to renew his contract, but may be willing to sell the 22-year-old if he is reluctant to re-sign.
Amorim is keen to sign in January despite United having agreed a deal to bring in teenage Paraguayan left-back Diego León for £3million from Cerro Porteño in the summer.
It will be more difficult to sign a striker in January, but United have been linked with Victor Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli. There is a clause in the deal allowing Napoli to recall Osimhen in January and sell him if the right offer comes in, but United sources believe it is unlikely they will be able to sign someone of his profile and salary at this stage.
If back-up goalkeeper Altay Bayindir leaves in search of first-team football, United are understood to have looked at Royal Antwerp's Senne Lammens as possible competition for Andre Onana.
The main objective at left back is Nuno Mendes, who played for Amorim at Sporting Lisbon
4. Who could leave?
The growing crisis at United means virtually everyone is for sale at the right price, with only a few exceptions.
Homegrown players such as Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo count as 100 per cent earnings on the PSR balance sheet and are therefore worth approximately four times as much as their teammates.
United would listen to offers for Rashford, one of their highest earners on £315,000-a-week who sat out four games before returning to the bench against Newcastle. It may have to be a loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the season, as was the case with Jadon Sancho's move to Chelsea in the summer.
United have been keen on offloading top earner Casemiro as well as £82million flop Antony, while Zirkzee has also been linked with a quick exit following his difficult start at Old Trafford.
Other players such as Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof could leave, but are out of contract in the summer and unlikely to command a fee.
United would listen to offers for Marcus Rashford, one of the highest earners with £315,000
5. What unexpected moves should fans be on the lookout for?
Despite all the noise around Rashford, Garnacho's value is actually higher due to his higher transfer fee and lower wages. United could sell him for more and not have the problem of settling a huge contract that still has three and a half years left.
Like Rashford, Garnacho has fallen out of favor with Amorim and has played the last four games from the bench after also being dropped for the Manchester derby.
Having previously been seen as untouchable under Ten Hag, the Argentine winger does not fit as naturally into Amorim's 3-4-3. United are still unlikely to sell him, but a combination of factors would at least make United consider any offer.