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Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has signaled that the club intends to strengthen during the January transfer window, describing it as a potential "opportunity" to push forward with their ongoing squad overhaul.
Lisandro Martínez's fiery public criticism of United's summer transfer activity has placed significant pressure on those in charge at Old Trafford, with technical director Jason Wilcox coming under particular fire after being singled out by the Argentine defender.
January will represent the first opportunity for United to respond to those concerns, with Carrick acknowledging the Red Devils will be assessing their available options.
"When the next transfer window arrives, you want to be prepared and make the most of it," the United manager said.
"Exactly what that looks like at this point, we're not entirely sure. But there's no question there's an opportunity with the transfer window being open.
"So we'll certainly be looking into that and trying to emerge in a better position in whatever form that takes."
The Final Chapter of Man Utd's Squad Rebuild
The summer of 2025 was dominated by attacking reinforcements. Benjamin Šeško headlined the arrivals alongside Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, with a combined £210 million ($280 million at current exchange rate) invested to revamp that department.
This time around, the midfield took center stage—much to Martínez's displeasure. United moved swiftly to secure Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, before Carlos Baleba joined from Brighton & Hove Albion, bringing the combined outlay on the three players to £155 million ($206 million).
United's focus is now set to shift toward defensive reinforcements over the next two windows. A left back remains a top priority, with the club having shown interest in Newcastle United's Lewis Hall during the summer before ultimately redirecting their spending. Hall subsequently penned a new deal at St James' Park in September.
A new center back is also on the club's radar, and that requirement has likely intensified following Martínez's public outburst. The 28-year-old's deal runs out in the summer, though United hold an option to extend it by an additional 12 months.
Landing top-tier talent in January is notoriously challenging, as clubs tend to inflate valuations due to the difficulty of sourcing replacements mid-season, though players lacking regular game time can occasionally become available.
During the summer window, United explored a late approach for Barcelona left back Alejandro Balde, but ultimately passed on securing a permanent deal for the Spanish international. Balde has since featured for just 12 minutes and is anticipated to be on the market when the winter window opens.