Emre Can and Sean Longstaff are reportedly among the midfielders being considered by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Manchester United deal with an injury crisis.
Solskjaer admitted after the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal on Wednesday that injuries to Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba meant they would be looking at “one or two” January signings.
McTominay is expected to be sidelined for two months with a knee ligament injury while Pogba needs surgery on an ankle problem and could be out for a month.
The United board will back Solskjaer with funds to bolster his squad, but only if long-term targets become available, and Can and Longstaff are top of that list, sources told ESPN.
Longstaff was a target in the summer but Newcastle’s £50million valuation proved too big a stumbling block.
Can is out of favour at Juventus and keen to leave but United face competition from Borussia Dortmund.
James Maddison remains a top midfield target but Leicester are unlikely to do business midway through a season in which they are challenging for a top four place.
Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish and West Ham’s Declan Rice are also being monitored.
“Of course, it’s playing on our decision-making when you’ve got two players out — Paul out for a month and Scott for two,” said Solskjaer after the defeat at the Emirates on New Year’s Day.
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“That will give us less options and we’ve got loads of games and important games. Still, it’s got to be right and that’s the point here.
“If he’s available and it’s possible, we’ll do something, definitely. We’re looking at one or two.”