Manchester United are drawing up January transfer plans focused on strengthening at centre-back and left-back, with Michael Carrick’s squad increasingly exposed by injuries and uncertainty in defence.
United invested heavily in attack and midfield during the previous two summers, but have not made comparable additions at the back. Luke Shaw’s latest injury has left Carrick short of options on the left, while doubts over Lisandro Martinez have further complicated his defensive planning.
Manchester United target defensive reinforcements
The club are expected to assess the market when the January transfer window opens, with centre-backs and left-backs identified as priority positions.
Carrick has acknowledged that United must plan carefully for the next opportunity to improve the squad.
“When the next transfer window comes, you want to plan and you want to make the best of it,” he said.
United spent about £155 million on Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans during the summer, but did not commit to a similar level of investment in defence.
Lewis Hall had been regarded as the club’s leading left-back target, although Newcastle refused to sell him and have since tied him to a new long-term contract.
Shaw’s fitness problems have led to Ayden Heaven covering at left-back, while Martinez’s contract expires next summer and his future at Old Trafford is increasingly uncertain.
Nottingham Forest centre-back Murillo is among the defenders being monitored as United consider a wider overhaul, with several potential additions understood to be under review.
January can be a difficult time to secure established defenders, as clubs are reluctant to lose important players midway through the season. United may also face inflated asking prices, particularly given the scale of scrutiny surrounding their recruitment.
The club’s immediate challenge will be to find quality rather than simply add numbers. With midfield already strengthened, one dependable defender capable of improving the starting team could address a more pressing weakness as United pursue Champions League qualification.
