Luke Shaw is out of contract at the end of the season, he is injured again, and in last Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League defeat in Madrid his cover at left-back was Ayden Heaven, a centre-back by trade. That is the position Manchester United’s head coach now says the club will try to fix in January.

Carrick, speaking before Sunday’s visit to Leeds, told reporters the next window would not pass United by.

“When the next transfer window comes, you want to plan, and you want to make the best of it. 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 name attached to the left-back brief is Alejandro Balde. The 22-year-old has been pushed to third choice at Barcelona behind Xavi Espart and Joao Cancelo and told by head coach Hansi Flick to look for a move, Fabrizio Romano has reported.

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“Barcelona were only considering a permanent exit and for big money and also the salary was a topic. United still need a left back.”

United made inquiries about Balde in the final weeks of the summer window, but Barcelona were only prepared to loan him and the Spaniard chose to stay. His standing in Catalonia has shifted since.

£155m in midfield, nothing at the back

A new centre-back is the second January brief. Two summers of recruitment poured £155m into the middle of the pitch, with Carlos Baleba arriving from Brighton for £70m, Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £50m and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35m. The defence was not addressed. The previous summer target at left-back, Lewis Hall, could not be prised out of Newcastle.

Carrick did not duck the broader picture of results.

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“I’ve got frustrations about not getting the right results. The players have got frustrations about not getting the right results.”

Martinez made the same point less politely

Lisandro Martinez made the same complaint without the diplomacy on 13 October, after the loss to Atletico. The Argentine turned on the club’s recruitment in his post-match comments to Sky Sports.

“I expect more from our technical director. We expect more from the top, from upstairs, to bring in more players to compete.”

Martinez has since apologised for the public manner of his comments and been fined by the club. Carrick insisted on Friday that the matter was closed.

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“He’s released his statement and realised he made a mistake. That’s enough for us to move on with.”

Martinez’s contract runs to the summer of 2027. United hold a one-year option; he has not signed an extension. The January transfer window opens on 1 January 2027.

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