Jose Mourinho currently sees Valencia’s Carlos Soler as his main January transfer target, in what is likely to be a limited window for Manchester United.

While the Portuguese still wants to bring in a winger and regrets not signing Internazionale’s Ivan Perisic in the summer due to the effect it has had on his attacking plans, the club have already made it known that funds for purchases will be much more constrained than then, and the United boss has in that time become increasingly concerned on how injury to Paul Pogba has had a greater effect on his whole team.

The absence of the French star due to a hamstring problem has suddenly seen United forced to play a much less expansive game without his passing, having left Mourinho with few alternative options in midfield.

Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Show all 23 1 /23 Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings We run the rule over the two teams at Stamford Bridge. AFP/Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Thibaut Courtois - 7 out of 10 Wasn’t overly tested but denied Lukaku in the first half and Fellaini at the death. AFP Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Cesar Azpilicueta - 8 Got the assist for Morata’s goal with a magnificent cross. AFP/Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Andreas Christensen - 7 Repaid his manager’s faith in him after Antonio Conte named him in the starting XI ahead of David Luiz. Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Gary Cahill - 7 Marshalled Lukaku and Rashford well alongside Azpilicueta and Christensen Chelsea FC via Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings N'Golo Kante - 7 Chelsea have missed his energy dearly. This was a solid comeback performance. AFP/Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Davide Zappacosta - 6 Solid down the right but was replaced by Antonio Rudiger when United made a couple of attacking changes. Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Cesc Fabregas - 9 The best player on the pitch by a country mile. Controlled the game and, as always, his passing was magnificent. Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Tiemoue Bakayoko - 8 Magnificent in the heart of midfield but lacked quality when he strayed into more advanced areas. AFP/Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Marcos Alonso - 7 Showed close to the form he was in last season as he got up and down the left wing all game. AFP/Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Alvaro Morata - 8 Planted a sumptuous header beyond De Gea to give Chelsea the lead. Chelsea FC via Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Eden Hazard - 8 Always seems to turn it on when it matters. Stung De Gea’s palms with a fierce first-half drive and, as we’ve come to expect, was one of Chelsea’s most dangerous players. Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings David De Gea - 7 Made a few good saves to keep United in it but could do nothing about Morata’s winning goal. Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Eric Bailly - 6 An erratic performance by a player who usually defends so well for United. AFP/Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Chris Smalling - 7 Probably United’s best player on the day after being left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad. Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Phil Jones - 5 Put the ball into his own net early on only to be bailed out by the referee, who deemed Morata to have fouled him. Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Antonio Valencia - 6 Solid at the back but looked to be struggling with injury towards the end of the match. Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Ander Herrera - 5 Combative but lacks the creativity that the injured Paul Pogba possesses. Was part of a United midfield that just couldn’t link defence and attack. Man Utd via Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Nemanja Matic - 6 One of United’s better performers on the day but was outshone by Tiemoue Bakayoko, the man who replaced him at Stamford Bridge in the summer. Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Ashley Young - 5 Should’ve claimed an assist for the game’s opening goal but Rashford headed his cross over the bar. Quiet otherwise. Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Henrikh Mkhitaryan - 3 The game passed him by. He’s in poor form at the moment after a superb start to the season. Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Romelu Lukaku - 6 Delivered an energetic performance against his former employers and was denied the game’s opening goal by a good Thibaut Courtois save. Faded after the break. AFP/Getty Images Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings Marcus Rashford - 5 Had a superb headed opportunity in the first half but appeared to back out slightly with Courtois charging towards him and ended up missing the target. Getty Images

Soler has meanwhile greatly impressed United staff in the 11 months since making his debut for Valencia in December.

Even though he is just 20, the Spanish under-21 international has shown many qualities United lack as well as a maturity, and would likely cost around £40m.

United have also considered the possibility of offering Andreas Pereira - who is currently thriving on loan at Valencia - plus cash for Soler.

Soler has impressed for Valencia this season (AFP)

Valencia are enjoying something of a revival on the sporting side, second in the league and thriving under new coach Marcelino but the club is still in a financial hole.

This year they recorded a €26m deficit, their third consecutive annual loss. Those losses stack up to around €70m and despite their lofty league position there is an understanding that it would be financially disastrous if they cannot find a way to return to the Champions League.