Man Utd are usually quiet in the January transfer window but they must buck that trend to strengthen this winter.

Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox would have winced in the Elland Road directors' box when Bryan Mbeumo glanced a free header wide in the first half of Manchester United's game against Leeds.

Mbeumo's header was United's first touch in the Leeds penalty area, but he couldn't turn it goalbound before snatching at another decent chance.

Mbeumo tenaciously continued to get into the right areas and opened the scoring with his third bite at the cherry, but United could have been two goals ahead at the break with a clinical centre-forward on the pitch.

While Leeds equalised five minutes into the second half to ensure the points were shared, perhaps the outcome would have been different if United had gone into half-time with a two-goal advantage.

It's not a criticism of Mbeumo to point out he missed two good chances. He played as an auxiliary centre-forward for the second game on the bounce and is currently United's best option in that position, but he cannot clinically finish like a top striker because he is naturally a winger.

Michael Carrick has used Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha up front in the absence of Benjamin Sesko, who has been ruled out since feeling pain in his shin after facing Brighton in the Carabao Cup last month.

Sesko was not a nailed-on starter even when he was available, leading to the theory that Carrick preferred to play without a natural striker, a view that was gathering pace, but the last two games have shown why having a centre-forward is crucial.

Mbeumo should have also converted at least one of his chances against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, so one goal from the opportunities he had in Madrid and West Yorkshire is a disappointing return.

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United did not sign a back-up striker over the summer despite Sesko having missed the final three games of last season and knowing he would miss the entire pre-season, which was a clear oversight.

Danny Welbeck seemed like an obvious candidate for a back-up role. The United academy graduate would have provided experience and goals, but it was Chelsea who signed him.

The other position United overlooked to their detriment in the summer window was left-back. Carrick changed the system against Leeds, which meant Diogo Dalot played left wing-back, but Ayden Heaven had played as a left-back against Atletico.

Although United have been left short in those areas due to some bad fortune with injuries, you didn't need to be a fortune teller to predict Luke Shaw would pick up an injury and Sesko's injury may recur given the nature of it.

United should have spent more ahead of the new season to give Carrick a better chance of succeeding, and they may have to make a signing or two in the January window to rectify their mistake.

Whether Carrick is still in charge by the winter window remains to be seen, but the situation in those two areas won't have changed much, even if Shaw and Sesko are fully fit by the time transfers are permitted again.

United still need to strengthen, so it's advisable for the club to deviate from their usual strategy of keeping their powder dry in January. It's tricky to get value for money and fewer top players are available, but bringing in a new left-back or striker could make the difference in the race for Champions League qualification.

There have been no incomings in three of the last five January windows (2026, 2024 and 2022). United signed Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven in January 2025, and officially signed Amad in January 2021, although including that deal is a stretch, given it was agreed months earlier.

It's not a market United like to dip into, but they may be forced to overpay for a target if it means that the new arrival could fill a hole at left-back/centre forward and help the team secure Champions League football.

Wilcox and Berrada can see the areas of the squad that need strengthening - and January is a chance to do that.