Manchester United find themselves in a bit of a mare's nest following their recent results, which are by no means terrible, but still below par for a title contender looking to do battle with Pep Guardiola's seemingly unstoppable Manchester City.
It's too early to say, but at the moment City appear to be miles ahead of every other Premier League team, they're essentially the team to beat, and with Jose Mourinho looking to return the league title to Old Trafford, he's in need of some serious reinforcements come the January transfer window as his side's lack of depth is the primary reason their form has been rocky thus far.
Hence, without further ado, here are four players Manchester United could realistically sign when the winter window commences:
Mesut Ozil
It's no secret that Mesut Ozil is nowhere near his best form right now, but given Arsenal's current situation, his apparent decline is somewhat understandable. On his day he's right up there with the world's best players, and who better than Jose Mourinho to help the Germany international rekindle the fire that once saw him dictate the flow of Real Madrid's play.
Having worked under Jose Mourinho in the past, he's unlikely to face much problems in adapting to the special one's pragmatic style of play, his experience at Real Madrid and the German National team will also serve him well due to the weight of expectation attached to playing for a resurgent Manchester United side.
Manchester United's current options at left-back consist of Luke Shaw, Matteo Darmian, Ashley Young, Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo, all of whom have, at some point, played decently for the Red Devils, but are seemingly unable to consistently perform thus leaving United in need of a new addition, and who better than Danny Rose to fix the club's left-back woes.
The Tottenham man has been on Manchester United's radar for quite some time, and appears to be the likeliest player to leave Spurs next, considering his comments about the club back in August.
He's pacey, strong, and most of all, he has a high defensive work rate, thus, he should be a priority for the Red Devils in January.
Whilst long-time Arsenal transfer target Julian Draxler hasn't exactly become a fringe player at PSG, his place in the team remains largely uncertain, thus sparking rumours of a potential exit.
It's no secret that United are lacking creativity on the flanks. A winger was at the top of Mourinho's summer wishlist, but the Portuguese boss was ultimately unable to land the signature of his target, Ivan Perisic.
With Julian Draxler boasting of immense creativity and great vision on the pitch, he could very well be the perfect replacement for Perisic – United, though, might have to contend with Arsenal for the German's signature.
Ever since Klopp arrived at Anfield, Emre Can has become a mainstay in Liverpool's lineup thanks to his superb performances in the middle of the park.
His ability to win balls and influence games makes Can an invaluable piece of Klopp's gegenpressing system, but considering the hefty sums we're used to seeing United splash, Can's potential acquisition is nowhere near outlandish.
Should Ander Herrera opt to Leave Old Trafford, United should turn their focus to Liverpool's midfield enforcer in a bid to maintain their title charge as well as the quality of their midfield.
