Andy Mitten reveals just what under-pressure Manchester United’s next move might be in the January transfer window.

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Given the poor form, poor football and Champions League elimination, Manchester United fans are wondering what comes next, with the injury hit club allowed to buy players in the transfer window.



When United did a recent bi-annual briefing with journalists, the position of left-back was cited as a priority for the transfer window, with the acknowledgement that it’s a big ask.

United have serious money to spend but the top European clubs, plus almost every Premier League team, are under no financial pressure to sell.

Clubs like Everton, who’d once buckle when United came for one of their best players, will happily say no. They’re building a decent young team and don’t want it plundered.

Of course a player could leave if he forced his way out by asking for a transfer, which players are reluctant to do, as Seamus Coleman will testify.

Teams naturally don’t want to lose their best players mid-season, especially one in such a specialised position as left-back. The replacement left-back is also not what United planned for, but then they nobody planned for Luke Shaw to be injured.

After a mediocre first term, a far fitter Luke Shaw started this season well and looked every bit the player Gary Neville described as “the man who can be United’s left-back for 15 years”. Then he was cruelly injured in Eindhoven. He’ll return, but not until next year.

With word out that United want a left-back, agents busied themselves. It was a slight surprise as Daley Blind, Matteo Darmain and Marcos Rojo can play there. Blind has been needed in the middle, Rojo has had injuries and issues with an unimpressed boss and Darmian is better on the right. The person has to be good enough, yet also understand that he’ll likely to play second fiddle when Shaw returns.

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Despite the restrictions, some exceptional full-backs have offered their services to United, yet now Louis van Gaal appears keener on a central defender.

There’s no truth in stories linking Nemanja Vidic to a return as a player. A United legend and former captain, the 34-year-old has been injured and hasn’t played this season. He’s doing his coaching badges and, while settled in Italy, misses life in England where he loved his nine years at United – as did his family.

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