Michael Carrick identifies first January signing after Man Utd’s torrid start to season

Manchester United have reportedly decided on their first January transfer target after a tough start to the 2026/27 campaign – but they face competition from Liverpool.

As the three-week international break gets underway, the start Carrick’s side have made to the season has caused concern among supporters, with United winning just one of their first five Premier League matches – against newly promoted Ipswich Town – as they sit 12th in the top flight.

Several positions remain under the spotlight, with the left-back and central midfield roles particular points of contention.

Carrick has opted for the central midfield pairing of Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans in recent weeks, although new signing Carlos Baleba is expected to start once the Premier League returns.

Carrick wants to address problem position in January

Meanwhile, at left-back, 31-year-old Luke Shaw has come in for criticism, while neither Leny Yoro nor Noussair Mazraoui looks capable of starting week in, week out at the highest level.

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This has seemingly prompted United to look elsewhere for a left-back, with TeamTalk reporting that Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell is the subject of growing interest from the Old Trafford club, as well as arch-rivals Liverpool, who have full-back issues of their own to correct during the winter window.

The 27-year-old, who helped Palace win the 2025 FA Cup and 2026 Conference League, was a stalwart under previous boss Oliver Glasner, with his consistent performances making him a fan favourite at Selhurst Park.

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Mitchell’s Eagles deal expires next summer, giving United hope that they could land him in a cut-price deal.

The England international, whose two caps came under Gareth Southgate in 2022, has made 252 appearances for the Croydon side, registering eight goals and 18 assists.

Palace are keen to retain the player and are trying to persuade him to put pen to paper on a new deal.

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Mitchell, who has also tentatively been linked with Chelsea, would be a cheaper alternative to previous target Lewis Hall, with the Newcastle man penning a new contract with the Magpies through to 2031 earlier in September.

Lewis Hall addresses Man Utd transfer interest

Speaking to Chronicle Live, Hall has now addressed the rumours linking him with a move to United, describing the stories as proof that he is “doing something right”.

“I guess it's just a credit to your own performances and how you are as a player, how you are as a person,” he said.

“I took that as a positive, but at the same time, I knew how much I love playing here and I knew that since the manager came in, I knew the ambitions and what we wanted to achieve.

“After not many conversations, not many training sessions, I knew that the manager was going to be really good for this club and I knew that as a team, bringing in new players and improving the squad was really important and as soon as we did that, it was a no-brainer really to sign.”