Manchester United are likely to be forced into the transfer market come January with players at left-back and a centre forward stuck on their shortlist

Manchester United have accepted that January reinforcements may be necessary and could go after Manchester City's Rayan Ait-Nouri - despite rejecting him in the summer.

The Red Devils have endured a poor campaign thus far, which has ramped up the pressure on Michael Carrick, and plenty have pointed to an underwhelming summer transfer window, which has not set the squad up to succeed.

Off the back of finishing third last term United now sit in 17th and their failure to add a striker or a left-back has left the team desperately short. All of their finances went into bolstering the midfield.

With the hierarchy now accepting that new arrivals will be necessary if the team are to climb up the table they have identified a series of targets, one being Ait-Nouri.

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He has fallen out of favour at the Etihad and the club even offered the Red Devils the chance to sign him just months ago. It has been 15 years since we saw a player cross the Manchester divide, but Ait-Nouri appears to be a player City would be willing to let go.

The Algerian would ultimately help United's problem at left-back, where they have Luke Shaw but no cover beyond him. The England man continues to be injury prone and that is forcing Carrick into finding makeshift solutions. In the summer City were seeking a loan deal with an obligation to buy from United, who had no interest in a permanent deal.

Crystal Palace's Tyrick Mitchell is about to enter the final six months of his deal at Selhurst Park. Cashing in would be a smart play from the Eagles, although Mitchell is beyond United's ideal age profile, reports The Sun.

If they are to bolster their forward line, where they've been without Benjamin Sesko all season, then Fulham's Rodrigo Muniz is a short-term option. He's only started in the Carabao Cup for the Cottagers this term and is known to Carrick, who had him during a loan spell at Middlesbrough.

United have previously struggled to bring in quality mid-season and will be desperate to avoid a repeat. They've pursued loan deals in the past, adding players like Wout Weghorst, who have struggled for impact. Their situation is also well documented, which could lead clubs into hiking prices knowing the Red Devils need new arrivals.

Director of football Jason Wilcox is the man in charge of recruitment so any possible change in the dugout wouldn't change United's plan come the New Year.