Struggling Man United target Man City's Ait-Nouri and Fulham's Muniz in January overhaul

Manchester United are preparing for a busy January transfer window after a catastrophic start to the Premier League season left them 17th in the table under manager Michael Carrick, with Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rodrigo Muniz among the targets identified by the club’s recruitment staff.

United’s summer transfer strategy has been widely criticised for concentrating spending on midfield while leaving glaring vacancies at left-back and striker. That imbalance has contributed directly to the club’s slide from third place to the brink of the relegation zone, and the hierarchy has now accepted that reinforcements are necessary in January.

Ait-Nouri, the Algerian left-back, has fallen down the pecking order at Manchester City and is reportedly available. City are said to have approached United about a potential deal as recently as a few months ago. A move would mark the first transfer between the two Manchester clubs in 15 years. The 23-year-old would address United’s most pressing positional need: Luke Shaw remains their only recognised left-back option, and the England international has been persistently hampered by injuries throughout the season.

During the summer window, City sought a loan arrangement with an obligation to buy, a structure United were unwilling to accept at the time. Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell, who is entering the final six months of his contract at Selhurst Park, has also been mentioned as an alternative, though he is reported to fall outside United’s preferred age profile.

In attack, United have been without Benjamin Sesko for the entire campaign so far, and Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz has emerged as a short-term solution. The Brazilian has been limited to Carabao Cup appearances for the Cottagers this season but has an existing relationship with Carrick, having worked under him during a loan spell at Middlesbrough in 2022-23.

United’s January position carries inherent risks. The club’s well-documented struggles are likely to encourage rival clubs to inflate asking prices, and previous mid-season loan signings — most notably Wout Weghorst — have failed to deliver the required impact. Director of football Jason Wilcox holds responsibility for recruitment, and reports suggest that any potential managerial change would not disrupt United’s transfer planning ahead of the New Year window.