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Debate: Can the January transfer window really kickstart Manchester United’s title challenge?

Even before the new Premier League season began, many people tipped the title would end up back in Manchester.

This was down to the money spent by both City and United, the quality that they already possessed and the managers leading them.

As things stand after 11 games played, City and United sit in first and second respectively, but it’s the former who are faring the best and betting favourites to take the title, as they continue to brush teams aside in dominant fashion.

United currently trail their city rivals by eight points but they are missing the likes of Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

According to a Unibet spokesman, a really telling period for Jose Mourinho could be the winter transfer window though, as he will certainly be looking to strengthen his squad once again, in the hope of delivering a Premier League title at Old Trafford for the first time since 2013.

You’d expect United to hang on City’s coattails, waiting for any slip ups from The Citizens, before looking to mount their own challenge.

You still get a feeling that the best is still yet to come from United, especially with the likes of Pogba and Ibrahimovic to return but adding in January will only strengthen their claims further.

United have long been linked with Kieran Tierney of Celtic and it’s evident that left back is a problem for Mourinho. Adding Tierney would certainly boost United defensively but he would also add renewed energy to the left hand side, something that has been lacking at times.

What has been United’s main downfall at times so far this campaign is the fact that they have lacked a bit of cutting edge, especially in the final third.

Romelu Lukaku has kicked off his career at the world’s biggest club in spectacular fashion, but on occasions has gone missing in games and this will be a slight concern for Mourinho.

So it comes as no surprise that United have been linked to Tierney’s Celtic teammate, Moussa Dembele.

The Frenchman would add pace to the United front line and although they have his compatriot Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, they are deployed as wide men, rather than out-and-out strikers.

Another move that United could make is to try and tempt Arsenal to sell Mesut Ozil prior to his contract expiring in the summer.

Mourinho really brought the best out of the German assist king in his time at Real Madrid and he could be ideal when United are looking for that bit of quality to deliver the right ball at the right time, to turn a game in their favour.

Whatever happens, you’d expect Mourinho’s squad to be stronger post transfer window and this will mean that they’re more than likely going to be there or thereabouts come May.

City may be catching the eye right now but they’re yet to hit any sort of bad patch and when they do, United will be ready and waiting.

Image courtesy of BT Sport via YouTube, with thanks.

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