Manchester United are reportedly concerned that they will be unable to improve their squad in the January transfer window due to the difficulty of signing players at the mid-point of the season.

The Red Devils signed Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James during the summer transfer window, but the club's failure to bring in a new striker has seen them struggle in the final third of the field.

The 20-time English champions have been linked with a number of players in recent weeks, with Lyon's Moussa Dembele among those said to be interesting the club ahead of the winter window.

However, according to the Manchester Evening News, United are bracing themselves for a tough January as they feel that it will be difficult to sign the right players in the middle of the campaign.

The report claims that while Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho and Leicester City's James Maddison are both targets, neither will arrive in January.

As well as a new forward, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are also short of options in the middle of the park with both Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera having been allowed to leave without replacements being signed.

The Red Devils have made their worst start to a top-flight campaign for 30 years and now face a home game against runaway leaders Liverpool, who have won their last 17 Premier League matches in a row.