Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim allegedly wants to sign a left-back, central midfielder and centre-forward to boost his squad, with signings potentially being made during the January transfer window.

According to Mick Brown - Man United's former chief scout - Amorim has identified three areas in need of improvement, as the Portuguese looks to build a team capable of challenging for major trophies once again.

Brown has claimed that Luke Shaw's ongoing injury problems will lead to Man United signing a left-back, while central midfield and centre-forward are viewed as priority positions for the new manager at Old Trafford.

"Amorim already has an idea of what he wants to do," Brown told Football Insider. "I'm told there are three positions they'd like to improve, but it's notoriously difficult in January.

"They're looking at a new left-back, because I don't think [Tyrell] Malacia is good enough, Shaw is still struggling, then you have to play people like [Lisandro] Martinez or [Diogo] Dalot out of position.

Brown: 'Amorim has identified three priority signings'

"They need a centre-forward as well, because the current options aren't good enough. Hojlund has improved, but he's not doing enough to prove he should start every week for Man United.

"Then, they want to strengthen their midfield as well. It doesn't look like Eriksen is going to be part of his plans, [Mason] Mount isn't really a certainty, Casemiro is past his best and will give them a decision to make.

"Whether he is given the financial backing to do that in January, I'm not certain given the issues they've had, but he is already looking to make improvements. Any specific players he wants to add may have to wait until the summer, and I think there will be more finances available to him then as well."

Diego Leon is expected to soon be confirmed as the first signing of the Amorim era, with a deal for the 17-year-old, who represents Cerro Porteno, believed to have been agreed.

However, Leon will not arrive until next summer, and it is understood that a senior left-back will also move to Old Trafford, with Amorim looking for a specialist to operate as a wing-back.

What has Amorim said about potential January incomings?

January is a difficult market, but Amorim recently hinted that his side could be active in the winter window, providing that the right players are available.

"It's a new idea, a new coach. Sometimes I have one idea in the first week, second week I have a different idea and then we have to see what happens so everything is so close. All the games during the opening of the window of January, I really don't know. I'm just focused on improving the team, I cannot think further than the next game," Amorim told reporters ahead of Thursday's Europa League contest with Viktoria Plzen.

"Like any other team, when the window is open we can do something but our focus is to win games, we have to have this feeling of winning and we have to start tomorrow."

Man United have have five more matches before the January transfer window opens for business, facing Manchester City, Bournemouth, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United in the Premier League, while they will tackle Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter-finals of the League Cup on December 19.