It is reported that Carrick wants Manchester United to loan a left winger! Midfield signings will be postponed until the summer window, with Balleraba once again the top choice.

This week, Manchester United’s senior management gathered at Carrington training ground to discuss plans for the remaining time in the January transfer window. According to "Football Insider," the club still plans to wait until the summer transfer window to chase top midfield targets instead of investing heavily during the season. In the January window, Carrick might receive support in other areas, but any major signings are more likely to be reserved for the permanent head coach next season, whether or not that is Carrick himself.

According to Premier League reports, Manchester United is not prioritizing signing a midfielder this month. This is mainly because the Red Devils’ primary targets—Elliot Anderson, Adam Walton, and Carlos Balleraba—are difficult to acquire mid-season.

More importantly, following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal, Carrick changed the formation from 3-4-3 to 4-2-3-1, which shifted the priorities for signings. Although signing a new midfielder remains urgent, the club plans to wait until the end of the season when a permanent head coach is appointed and the budget increases.

Carrick’s formation demands from midfield differ from Amorim’s, so 20-year-old Kobe Meno can perform effectively in midfield, as he did in the derby against Manchester City. Therefore, 23-year-old Balleraba might once again become the preferred midfield signing best suited to the team’s needs, with his defensive abilities being the strongest among the three key targets.

Manchester United is reportedly increasingly confident about securing Balleraba in the summer, but Brighton has clearly stated their stance: £100 million, no negotiations. Hence, this deal is not feasible in the January window, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s team is prepared to wait until the season ends to negotiate when there is more time.

It is said that Carrick expressed in a meeting with Manchester United’s sporting director Jason Wilcox the desire to prioritize signing a left winger, preferably left-footed rather than a right-footed inverted winger, to diversify attacking options. Currently, only Amad Diallo and Mbemou are genuine wingers in the squad, Rashford will not return soon, and Carrick aims to revive United’s traditional style of strong wing play.

In the FA Cup match where Manchester United lost 1-2 to Brighton, Cunha started as the left winger; while in the 2-0 victory over Manchester City, Patrick Dogu was deployed as the starting left winger and scored a goal, although he is essentially a left-back. Cunha came on as a substitute to assist Dogu and nearly set up a second goal. The £62.5 million man played as a striker, and the assist came from the right side, where he abandoned his usual cutting inside and solo style.

The club’s recruitment team is reportedly searching the market for suitable loan players to fit the budget of the mid-season transfer window. This is different from Amorim’s approach, who emphasized long-term development and avoided short-term signings.

However, given the current situation, the club is now considering loan deals rather than permanent transfers, allowing them to keep funds available for the new head coach to reassess the squad upon arrival. This approach ensures winter reinforcements to boost chances of qualifying for the Champions League while protecting the summer transfer plans from excessive spending.

Transfer expert Pete O’Rourke explained: “We all know Manchester United is looking to strengthen their midfield. I believe they may wait until summer to pursue some top targets like Walton, Anderson, and Balleraba. At present, I don’t think United prioritizes signing a midfielder. What I’ve heard is that United is considering bringing in a left winger this month, but even that would be a loan deal. Unless a very suitable player appears, United won’t make any big-money signings.”