Manchester United are set to hold an internal meeting with new interim boss Michael Carrick over their plans for the January transfer window, GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Fabrizio Romano has revealed.
The Old Trafford side are reportedly expected to shift their focus towards potentially bolstering Carrick’s squad before the market shuts on February 2, with a meeting scheduled for early this week to assess their options.
Carrick secured an impressive 2-0 victory against Manchester City in his first game back on Saturday, which saw United climb to fifth in the Premier League table.
United have yet to register any major transfer activity in January, having focused on appointing the 44-year-old following Ruben Amorim’s sacking a fortnight ago.
Man United to Hold Transfer Meeting
Jason Wilcox
Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel, revealed that Man United are expected to hold a meeting with Carrick to assess potential squad needs ahead of the final two weeks of the transfer window:
“I wanted to mention something on Manchester United. Because in the next hours, I would say, at the very beginning of this week, there will be an internal meeting at Manchester United, involving also the ideas of Michael Carrick.
“That is not Michael Carrick who decides, but Michael Carrick, who started his Manchester United chapter in a fantastic way, by winning the Manchester Derby, showing very good energy, very good football.
“But at the same time, Carrick will be involved in the conversation with Man United to decide on several situations, what they want to do on the market from now to the end of the January transfer window.
“If they want to go and try and get a player for an opportunity, maybe in midfield, maybe in other positions, maybe a striker. So they need to assess and decide with Michael Carrick, or continue with the current squad and invest in the summer.”
Carrick gave his first Premier League start of the season to Kobbie Mainoo on Saturday in a clear signal that the 20-year-old midfielder is key to his plans at Old Trafford.
Mainoo was among United players heavily linked with a January departure under Amorim, along with Roma target Joshua Zirkzee, who was not part of the squad to face Man City due to injury.
Midfield Remains a Priority Area
Ruben Neves
If they were to make any new signings in January, Man United are likely to stick to their long-term plans of improving their midfield.
After switching to a 4-2-3-1 system since Amorim’s sacking, the Red Devils need more options in the middle of the park, with captain Bruno Fernandes now playing in a more advanced role.
United were recently linked with a move for Al-Hilal star Ruben Neves, whose contract expires at the end of the season. The Portuguese international is believed to be looking to depart Saudi Arabia this month.
The Old Trafford side splashed over £200m on new arrivals last summer, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens joining.
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