Manchester United could turn to Manchester City's Rayan Ait-Nouri and Fulham's Rodrigo Muniz in the January transfer window as the club look to address a campaign that has left them 17th in the Premier League table under Michael Carrick.
Having dropped from third place to the brink of the relegation zone, United's summer transfer policy has come under scrutiny. Funds were concentrated on midfield while vacancies at striker and left-back were left unaddressed, leaving Carrick with a thin squad.
Left-back targets identified
Ait-Nouri has fallen down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium, with City reportedly approaching United about a potential deal months ago. It has been 15 years since a player crossed the Manchester divide, yet Ait-Nouri appears to be someone City would be willing to offload.
The Algerian would address United's issue at left-back, where Luke Shaw remains the only recognised option. The England international continues to be plagued by injuries, leaving Carrick scrambling for alternatives.
During the summer, City were pursuing a loan arrangement with an obligation to buy from United, who had no appetite for a permanent deal. Crystal Palace's Tyrick Mitchell, approaching the final six months of his contract at Selhurst Park, is an alternative.
Striker options explored
Should United look to strengthen their attacking options, with Benjamin Sesko absent all season, Fulham's Muniz presents himself as a short-term solution. He has only started in the Carabao Cup for the Cottagers this campaign and is familiar to Carrick, having worked with him during a loan spell at Middlesbrough in the 2022-23 season.
United have historically struggled to recruit quality players in the January window. Previous loan signings, such as Wout Weghorst, have failed to make the desired impact. The club's predicament is widely known, which could prompt rival clubs to inflate their asking prices.
Director of football Jason Wilcox holds responsibility for recruitment, meaning any potential managerial change would not alter United's transfer plans heading into the New Year.
