Manchester United must give Ruben Amorim transfer green light for 'really funny kid' reunion

Having lost four games on the bounce, Manchester United would be within their rights to attack this month's transfer window in an effort to drag themselves out of trouble.

However, the word from the club is that there is "no money" to spend on prospective recruits this month. United spent north of £200million in the summer but recruited to the needs of their former manager and a different formation.

Following the appointment of Ruben Amorim in November, United now operate with a 3-4-3 system. The Portuguese head coach was wedded to that shape at Sporting Lisbon and wasted no time in implementing an identical shape at Old Trafford.

The three-at-the-back system features wing-backs that provide the width, both defensively and offensively. They are arguably the most crucial components within the formation.

Amad, in the main, has been United's first-choice right wing-back since Amorim succeeded Erik ten Hag, offering plenty of promise and productivity from that position. In recent weeks, however, he has been tasked with playing higher up the pitch as the right-sided No.10.

As a result of that switch, Noussair Mazraoui has generally operated as the right-sided wing-back. Diogo Dalot has regularly operated on the opposite flank despite being more comfortable on the right flank.

As a result, is it felt that signing a left-sided wing-back should be a leading priority for United before the end of the January transfer window in the event of funds becoming available. United know they need to cut their cloth to raise funds for potential incomings and Amorim, speaking at Friday's press conference, admitted the club will "try to do something" before the deadline on February 3.

He said: "Of course, when the window is open we can try to