MANCHESTER UNITED are open to bolstering their defence and attack in the winter transfer window.

United failed to bring in a left back or a back-up striker in the summer and there is a private acceptance that they fell short with their squad strengthening.

Left back Luke Shaw will not return until after the international break, having played in just five of their 14 games this season. Striker Benjamin Sesko is sidelined until January with a shin injury.

United have limited funds and have resorted to frugal deals in recent January windows. The club finalised loan moves for Jack Butland, Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer in 2023 and did deals for up-and-comers Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven in 2025.

The possibility of a change of head coach would not have a major bearing as director of football Jason Wilcox is in charge of recruitment.

Fulham centre forward Rodrigo Muniz is a short-term option as he has only started in the League Cup for the Cottagers this term.

Muniz, 25, played for Michael Carrick during a loan spell at Middlesbrough, where he started once under the United head coach due to a four-month lay-off.

Manchester City left back Rayan Aït-Nouri was offered to United on transfer deadline day but the club passed on a deal.

Ait-Nouri, 25, has made one start under Enzo Maresca – in the League Cup. City were seeking a loan deal with an obligation to buy from United, who had no interest in a permanent deal.

Lewis Hall signed a new contract with Newcastle in September but is considered a realistic target by United for the summer.

Fellow left back Tyrick Mitchell, 27, is about to enter the final six months of his Crystal Palace deal and would be a cost-efficient alternative in January, but he is outside United’s preferred age range of 22-26.

Any mid-season incomings at United would also likely be contingent on departures, with Joshua Zirkzee and Harry Amass two players who could make way for new recruits.

United blocked a deadline day move to Everton for Zirkzee, who has still not started a game this season and mustered three club goals in the past 18 months.

Zirkzee has generated interest from Italian clubs in the two winter windows he has spent at United, having joined the club from Bologna in 2024.

Amass has changed agents twice already since the start of the season as he looks to secure a permanent switch in the new year. The 19-year-old has not started once, despite Shaw’s lengthy injury lay-off.

Carrick has started winger Dorgu, right backs Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui, as well as centre back Heaven at left back ahead of Amass.

United are set to release the injury-prone Shaw, who is into his 13th season with United, when his contract expires in June.