Jose Mourinho has endured a far more difficult start to his Manchester United tenure than he would have liked. The Red Devils have been disappointing in both the Premier League and Europa League this season, and they sit eight points behind leaders Liverpool after just 11 matches.

Summer signing Paul Pogba, who arrived for a world-record transfer fee, has been the subject of harsh criticism from all sides, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic only recently ended a six-game goalless streak.

A number of injuries to the United back four, including Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling, means Mourinho will be in the hunt for defensive reinforcements, while a lack of world-class wingers and the disappointing form of Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay will surely encourage United to strengthen in that area.

The Portuguese manager has also been openly critical of several of his own players, including Shaw and Smalling, leading to speculation that there will be a clear-out of the United squad either in January or when the summer comes around.

He is willing to allow eight players – reportedly Bastian Schweinsteiger, Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones and Morgan Schneiderlin among others – to leave within the next year as he looks to mould the squad into his own image. By the end of next year the squad will be almost entirely unrecognisable from the one that Sir Alex Ferguson presided over until 2013.