Manchester United appear to have gotten their mojo back in recent times.
There's a sense of optimism glowing around Old Trafford as the United faithful now feel increasingly confident of a top-four finish after an indifferent start under Jose Mourinho.
You can't blame them though, as United's recent showings have been nothing short of exceptional, and Mourinho is likely to utilise the January transfer window to bolster his squad in a bid to challenge their title rivals more powerfully.
The Portuguese tactician is expected to offload some players such as Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay, which would in turn, create some room for new additions of quality.
Here are five players United could sign in January:
Nelson Semedo
United have reportedly opened talks with Benfica over a deal for 23-year-old right-back Nelson Semedo.
The Red Devils were previously linked with a move for Semedo's teammate, Victor Lindelof, but with Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo proving to be a decent double-act in defence, Mourinho sees no need for an additional centre-half.
Semedo, on the other hand, would provide some much needed cover for Antonio Valencia on the right flank – he could also potentially become a mainstay seeing as he's got blistering pace, a superior crossing ability and a trick or two up his sleeve.
His age and experience are also attractive to Mourinho.
Dimitri Payet
Payet is likely to leave West Ham United in the summer for two reasons; it would be the Hammers' last chance to make any sort of sizeable profit from his sale, and it's what Payet wants – judging by his body language and recent comment about his future.
United could very well be his destination as they've been linked with a move for him since the start of the 2016/17 season.
Payet is more or less the complete playmaking winger.
He's got pace, vision, creativity and the ability to hit the back of the net; and he's certainly a player Mourinho would like to work with.
Despite West Ham's gloomy start to the season, Payet still has six assists to his name, which is a testament to what he brings to the Hammers and what he could potentially offer United going forward as they attempt to find their way into the top four.
A winter move is a very slight possibility but Slaven Bilic may not be too ken to part ways with his prized asset at this stage of the campaign.
Andre Silva
Andre Silva is on the radar of many elite clubs, including United, where you'd suggest he'd most likely end up.
Back in mid-November, Silva was the subject of plenty of speculation which suggested that United were readying a sensational £51million bid for him.
The Red Devils could very well splash the cash on the Porto star in January in an attempt to provide some cover for Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the rest of the season as the likes of Marcus Rashford, and Anthony Martial have seemingly fallen by the wayside.
Porto are in a precarious financial situation at the moment; thus, they're likely to accept any bids from £50m upwards for the young Portugal international.
However, will United fans be happy with a new 21-year-old attacker when Rashford and Martial are available?
Goncalo Guedes
United have had their eye on a couple of Benfica players this season, including Goncalo Guedes.
The versatile forward played a pivotal part in Benfica making it into the Champions League Round of 16 and United reportedly sent scouts to Portugal to watch him early in the year.
Guedes can play on either flank or through the middle as a striker or an attacking midfielder which would make him quite useful for United seeing as the Red Devils could do with strengthening in any of those areas.
It's absolutely mind-boggling how a player of James Rodriguez's ilk has turned into a fringe player at Real Madrid.
Zinedine Zidane's side is full of world-class players, but surely Rodriguez should be getting more game time than he currently is.
United could offer James a way out of his Santiago Bernabeu nightmare in January, and with the Colombia International considering a move away from Madrid, he could quite possibly be plying his trade in Manchester come February.
James has just one La Liga goal to his name this term having started four games and made four substitute appearances, but his talent is undoubted and he is a player whose situation Mourinho must be watching closely.
