Currently occupying 14th in the Premier League table, seven points above the drop zone, Manchester United would be within their rights to attack the January transfer window.

However, the word from United is that they have "no money" to spend on reinforcements this month, meaning head coach Ruben Amorim is facing the likelihood of having to work with what he has got until the summer.

It is a far from ideal situation for the Portuguese chief, who traded Sporting Lisbon for Old Trafford in November, as he is in desperate need of a spark to inject fresh life into a squad currently devoid of confidence and belief.

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The only way United will be able to add to Amorim's squad this month is via player sales. United are prepared to sell Marcus Rashford, who has turned down offers from Saudi Arabia, this month and he would bring in a sizeable fee. His salary, however, could make an exit difficult to negotiate.

United have others within their ranks that, in an ideal world, could do with being offloaded. Tyrell Malacia and Joshua Zirkzee have both been linked with Juventus and speculation is never too far away from Casemiro's future.

In the event of United being able to generate some funds, they should try and do everything they possibly can to try and source a left-sided wing-back and a striker. However, finding a world-class centre-forward in the January window is one of the most difficult transfer missions any club can subscribe to.

That means United's only hope of finding a new No.9 may be via a loan deal. A cluster of names have been linked with possibly fulfilling that void.

Despite Amorim's eagerness to recruit a new goalkeeper to challenge Andre Onana for the No.1 spot, it is hard to envision the Cameroonian being axed as the club's first-choice shot-stopper by the end of the window.

He has started every Premier League game since joining the club from Inter Milan ahead of the start of last season and that run is unlikely to suddenly come to an end within the coming weeks.

Amid United's chaotic fixture schedule and injury and illness-related issues, Amorim has not been able to choose a settled XI and stick with it thus far. But with the fixture congestion beginning to ease, United could soon find themselves operating with a settled defensive line consisting of Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez.

The latter has struggled for form in recent weeks but remains the club's only senior left-footed centre-back, making him a shoo-in for the left-sided centre-back role. Ideally, United need to restore him to the level of form he is capable of producing.

Amad has been United's best player since Amorim's appointment and should be restored to the right wing-back role after a recent run of starts in attack. He has excelled as the right-sided wing-back and Amorim has hinted that is his long-term position.

However, on the opposite flank, United could do with a fresh face. No shortage of names have been linked with prospectively filling that role, but finances will, of course, dictate what is achievable. Should United raise some money via sales, a move for Paris Saint-Germain's Nuno Mendes could be possible, either permanently or on loan.

The 22-year-old, who worked with Amorim at Sporting, has struggled for regular game time in France so far this season, playing just 16 times. He played as a wing-back at Sporting and a reunion with Amorim would make sense on several levels.

Manuel Ugarte, despite United's collective struggles recently, has been improving with every game and should form 50 per cent of United's first-choice central-midfield partnership. Kobbie Mainoo is the most logical partner for the Uruguayan.

In attack, Bruno Fernandes is a guaranteed starter as one of the two No.10s. His form has been indifferent this season but his status as club captain means he is not going to lose his starting spot.

Who fills the other No.10 position is up for debate. Alejandro Garnacho will be vying to start likewise Rashford in the event of him staying put. But if Mason Mount can recover from his latest injury setback and stay fit, he will be a very strong candidate to start.

He quickly earned a glowing report from Amorim and is well suited to his system because of his willingness to run out of possession. Furthermore, he played in a system that featured wing-backs at Chelsea.

Signing a striker will be a stern challenge this month, so much so any hopes United have of drafting in a No.9 may be via a loan deal. Swooping for Viktor Gyokeres is out of the question.

PSG's Randal Kolo Muani has been mooted as an option after, just like Mendes, struggling for regular opportunities in the French capital. But having scored just two goals this season, he would not be a guaranteed source of goals, meaning Rasmus Hojlund may retain the starting spot.

United's strongest XI after a dream January window: Onana; Yoro, De Ligt, Martinez; Amad, Mainoo, Ugarte, Mendes; Mount, Hojlund, Fernandes.