What do Manchester United need in January? Jose Mourinho's transfer

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho could be one of the most popular champions in the 1-0 Champions League defeat to Juventus on Tuesday night.

Mourinho was quizzed on how far back in the world.

The United boss was desperate to recruit a central defender in August but failed to clinch an active interest in Toby Alderweireld at Tottenham.

"A bit far," Mourinho said when asked about his side in comparison to Juve. "Juventus is champions for seven years, I think seven years in a row, two Champions League finals in the last four years and not happy with what they have, they want more, they want more.

"They had Higuain, Mandzukic, Dybala, they want more … They want Ronaldo … They had Barzagli, Chiellini, Rugani, they are not happy, they want more, they want Bonucci and they go for the best players in the world.

"So big, big club with a big past but with a big desire to win, I do not say the Champions League, I think to win the treble, that's what they are because they are at the end of the day. [Internazionale’s] treble, yet I think they are really close to it.

"To go to the Juventus level? Barcelona level? Real Madrid level? How can you reach that level?" Mourinho added to a follow-up question. Manchester City level How can you reach this level?

"Yes [with the best players]. Is not so easy. Because many of the players they belong to these top teams, so we work with what we have to try to improve with what we have. For example, today the way I say amazing Chiellini and amazing Bonucci, I have to say Chris and Victor had a very positive game.

"The first time Victor plays a game of this dimension, Victor had a positive game, Luke Shaw Champions League at this level of the game, so good for some of the boys, Rashford, Martial, Lukaku, I think is second season he plays Champions League too, so we work, we work hard, we try to improve our players but quality is quality.

"And, again, I do not say just a creative player or just a beautiful player, Chiellini and Bonucci beautiful, absolutely beautiful.But my boys, so happy with what they did . "

So which areas do you need to strengthen in January to compete in the Premier League and the Champions League in the New Year?

We asked for their verdicts on the positions United must bolster below.

Ciaran Kelly

I think there are two obvious positions for me: a quality center-back and a back-up center forward. Coincidentally, two areas Mourinho earmarked in the summer.

United States of America – Mourinho Signed Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly Let's Not Forget

A new center-back would not be a magic wand solution but it would help calm things down a little back there so David de Gea is not so busy.

At the other end of the pitch, Romelu Lukaku did not have to play 90 minutes every single game.

Liam Corless

United's most pressing concern is at center forward, where Lukaku is horribly out of form. The £ 75million signing from Everton started last season similarly, when he scored in all but one of the goals.

It is not only Lukaku's scoring drought (he's now gone seven games without a goal for United) that is an issue but it's a question of success. the team.

The only reason I can think of why Mourinho has not dropped him is that he does not believe there are any genuine alternatives within the current squad. Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez are all options but Mourinho prefers his No.9s to be bigger in stature.

A player like Diego Costa would be perfect for a goal that is a non-starter. Whoever comes in would not necessarily be one of Europe's elite strikers, but Lukaku needs someone to apply a bit of pressure on his position and let him know he's not guaranteed every week.

Dan O'Toole

Strangely, after United's defensive start to the season, Jose Mourinho's back to the most promising aspect of his side at present.

Chris Smalling and Lindelof, by design or accident, seem to have formed a partnership that borders on the conviction at Old Trafford.

If Mourinho is afforded a lighter transfer kitty than he might like in January, his priority might thus lie elsewhere.

Lukaku in the central striker's position, it may be considered to be of limited value in the face of middle.

It could be a problem for the youth of the United States.

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Manchester United might have found the center back they were looking for