Manager Ruben Amorim has emphasized that Manchester United will not make new signings in January unless there is "common ground" between him and football director Jason Wilcox on which players will improve the team. The Red Devils continue to be linked with some names, including several midfielders, ahead of the winter transfer market opening on New Year's Day.

United is believed to be interested in signing a new No. 6 in January.

According to The Guardian, United is thought to have prioritized signing a new central midfielder in January, with Al-Hilal's Ruben Neves, Atletico Madrid's Conor Gallagher, and Bournemouth's Tyler Adams added to its list of potential signings.

The 20-time champions were interested in bringing in a new No. 6 in the summer transfer window, but withdrew from negotiations to secure Brighton and Hove Albion's Carlos Baleba after being put off by his reported valuation of 100 million pounds ($114 million/$133 million).

Brighton owner Tony Bloom confirmed in October that United was interested in signing Baleba, telling The Argus: "There was interest from Manchester United, and we said he was not available this summer, and they went away. So we've had much bigger sagas in the past. But Carlos Baleba, his improvement has been immense. Incredibly important player for this football club, and we're delighted he is with us for this season."

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However, after Amorim revealed in early December that United was prepared to strengthen in other areas of the field - provided the "perfect" long-term players were available - the BBC has reported that the Old Trafford club was interested in signing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo next month.

But it appears United is set to miss out on the sought-after forward, who has a 65 million pound ($74 million/$87 million) release clause that can be triggered in the first two weeks of January, after the same outlet reported that the Ghanaian international is leaning toward joining Manchester City instead.

United is short on players following the departures of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo, who are competing for Morocco, Ivory Coast, and Cameroon, respectively, in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), while Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire are all injured.

"The only thing we will try to bring now - and at the end of the season - are players who are perfect for our future," Amorim said before United's 2-1 Premier League defeat to Aston Villa on Dec. 21.

"It will not be to salvage something right now, to cope with the loss of three players to AFCON. It is not going to be like that. Even if we try to bring a player, perhaps it won't be the position we need most. So I don't know what will happen, but it's possible we can do something."

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