Manchester United target five left-backs for January 2027 amid injury crisis
On 10 November 2026 Manchester United were reported to be pursuing five left-backs ahead of the January 2027 transfer window as the club seeks reinforcements in the Premier League.
United have endured their worst start in the Premier League era and sit 18th, facing relegation danger as the November international break arrives; head coach Michael Carrick has been hampered by injuries, with the left-back role especially affected. Luke Shaw suffered an injury during the Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur and has not returned to action, while Patrick Dorgu picked up a hamstring injury on international duty with Denmark before returning against Aston Villa, where he was played on the wing and scored a 96th-minute equaliser. In the absence of a natural left-back Carrick has deployed Diogo Dalot on the left, a move the club feel has left that flank exposed.
Barcelona full-back Alejandro Balde remains a long-term target for United; the 23-year-old La Masia graduate stayed at Camp Nou in the summer but has fallen down Hansi Flick’s pecking order and has logged just 100 minutes in LaLiga this season. Football Insider reported Balde is open to a January move, and Barcelona are reportedly seeking a fee of around £30 million for a player under contract until 2028. Khel Now also noted Jorge Mendes is exploring destinations and seven clubs have shown interest, including Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Juventus and Roma.
Rayan Aït-Nouri has been linked with a potential switch from Manchester City that would make him the 15th player to represent both Manchester clubs if completed in January; the Algerian international is reportedly frozen out by City manager Enzo Maresca and seeking an exit. TEAMtalk’s Graeme Bailey said the player’s representatives have held talks with several clubs, including United, and Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg indicated personal terms would not be an obstacle while a fee around £30 million has been mentioned.
Club Brugge’s Joaquin Seys is identified as one of Europe’s bright left-back prospects and already has eight senior caps for Belgium, with media reports linking him to Manchester United in January. TalkSPORT’s Andy Brassell reported Seys prefers a move to the Premier League and would favour United for increased playing time at Old Trafford, and the transfer cost has been estimated at approximately €23.8 million.
RB Leipzig captain David Raum, 28, has been cited as a ready-made option; CaughtOffside reported Raum has emerged as a leading target and his contract is due to expire next summer. The same coverage put a prospective fee at about £30 million and noted Raum recently lost his place in the German national team amid indifferent club form.
Rennes left-back Mahamadou Nagida, 21, is another name on United’s radar, with TEAMtalk reporting that United scouts have monitored the Cameroon international who progressed through Rennes’ ranks to become a regular starter. Nagida is contracted until 2029 and, according to those reports, would represent more of a long-term project than an immediate fix for the left-back vacancy.
Manchester United have identified signing a new left-back as a January priority and these five players — Alejandro Balde, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Joaquin Seys, David Raum and Mahamadou Nagida — are the principal targets cited; Barcelona are reportedly demanding around £30 million for Balde, whose contract runs until 2028, as United plan for January 2027 business.