Carrick: Man Utd Must 'Make the Best Of' January Window as Woeful Run Deepens

Michael Carrick has admitted that Manchester United must "make the best of" the January transfer window, with the manager conceding his side needs reinforcements as a difficult start to the season continues to bite.

Carrick eyes January opportunity

United's squad depth has been called into question amid a busier schedule that now includes Champions League football, and Carrick made clear that the mid-season market represents a chance to address it.

"When the next transfer window comes, you want to plan, and you want to make the best of it," Carrick told Sky Sports. "Whatever that looks like at this stage, we don't quite know. But without doubt, there's opportunity, because the transfer window is open.

"So we'll definitely be looking at that and trying to come out stronger in whatever way that looks like."

The comments echo Carrick's earlier stance on the subject. Speaking ahead of a planned defensive rebuild, he said on 17 October that United would explore January opportunities, with the club looking to strengthen at centre-back and left-back, per prior reporting.

A season of struggle so far

United have endured a torrid start to Carrick's first full season as permanent boss, winning just two of their nine games across all competitions, with three draws and four defeats.

The Red Devils have collected just six points from six Premier League games in 2026-27 (W1 D3 L2) — their lowest tally at this stage of a league campaign since 1986-87 under Ron Atkinson, when they had four.

Defensively, the numbers are similarly stark. For a second consecutive season, United have kept no clean sheets in their opening six league games — the first time they have done so in back-to-back campaigns since 1930-31 and 1931-32.

Injury absences expose thin squad

The strain on the squad was laid bare on United's trip to Atletico Madrid, with Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo and Benjamin Sesko all missing through injury.

After the defeat to Atleti, defender Lisandro Martinez publicly called out the club's hierarchy over their lack of activity in the summer window, sharpening the focus on the recruitment decisions that lie ahead.

Leeds test next

United will attempt to halt a five-game winless run across all competitions when they face rivals Leeds United on Sunday.

History offers some encouragement on the road in this fixture: in all competitions, United are unbeaten in their last seven away games against Leeds (W5 D2) since a 1-0 Premier League defeat in September 2002.

Leeds, though, are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League home games (W4 D3), with their last longer unbeaten run at Elland Road coming between January and December 2001 (15 games).