Michael Carrick has a busy January ahead of him as he looks to get to grips with his Manchester United first team and possibly navigate the mid-season transfer window, and Wayne Rooney has offered some sage advice
Wayne Rooney speaks
Wayne Rooney has offered Manchester United some sage advice(Image: The Wayne Rooney Show / YouTube)
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Wayne Rooney has urged Michael Carrick and Manchester United to swoop in for any players they have on their radar should they become available this month. Carrick is currently is settling into an interim head coaching role at Old Trafford as a short-term solution to Ruben Amorim's sacking.
And while he will be mainly concentrating on securing the best possible finish for United in the second-half of the season, he could require assistance from the board in terms of fresh first-team faces.
While it is understood that the Reds are not looking to splash the cash this month, and instead make do with their current crop of talent, Rooney has issued a word of warning over a laid-back approach.
Speaking on the most-recent instalment of The Wayne Rooney Show, the 40-year-old said: "The problem United have got at the minute is if players become available now, I think we have to go for them.
"Because when it comes to the summer and you're in competition again with the teams who are more successful at the minute, it becomes more difficult to sign the players they want. If the players become available now who you think, 'Yeah,' we can go for him now.
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"And maybe you're paying over the odds to get him a little bit. I think they have to take it now."
Michael Carrick applauds
Michael Carrick could be in for a tough month(Image: PA)
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It comes as United have already missed out on a move for Antoine Semenyo, who joined bitter rivals Manchester City in a £64million deal with Bournemouth earlier this month. The forward is clearly settling into his new surroundings well, having scored two goals and bagged an assist for the Sky Blues in two appearances.
Elsewhere on Rooney's podcast, David Ornstein explained that while there is work to be done at Old Trafford at present, he believes that United will stick with what they have. He said: "Man United's view is that, 'We're going to keep our powder dry unless some wild opportunity comes in January,' which is highly unlikely for a player they're looking to sign in the summer.
"And therefore, focus on the next market, which is going to be a number six, I think - like a holding-midfielder, whether it be an Elliot Anderson, a Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba or a number of others I'm sure are on their list. If Casemiro's leaving, they may need more than one in that role.
"And then there is still that left-sided attacking position that would need to be filled if they were interested in Semenyo, and let's see what happens with [Marcus] Rashford and [Jadon] Sancho's situations, because it appears they've got no future at Old Trafford.
"And then there will be other positions in the side, maybe a centre-back. Is Harry Maguire going to leave because he's in his option year now and there's no suggestion of a renewal?
"So there is a lot of recruitment work to be done. But I think with one competition now, the Premier League, the top four race, players coming back from AFCON, players coming back from injury - there's barely anybody injured going into the Manchester Derby - I think they're going to stick with what they've got."