Manchester United are considering signing a centre-back on loan in the January transfer window after Harry Maguire was ruled out for up to a month.
It has been confirmed that £80million signing Maguire has suffered a muscle tear and is unlikely to be back in action until February, meaning he is set to miss several key games for United.
Maguire missed United’s 3-1 Carabao Cup semi-final first leg defeat to local rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford on Tuesday after failing a late fitness test, having sustained the injury in Saturday’s 0-0 FA Cup draw at Wolves.
The 26-year-old’s injury could leave Victor Lindelof as United’s only available senior centre-back for Saturday’s visit of Norwich in the Premier League, with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hoping Phil Jones will be fit after suffering cramp against City.
And the desperate situation has forced United to scour the market for a centre-back to join them on loan until the end of the season, according to the Manchester Evening News .
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Next Tuesday’s replay at Old Trafford is one of several games Maguire will now miss, as well as Saturday’s visit of Norwich as United resume their bid to overcome up a five-point gap to the Premier League’s top four.
He will also miss United’s trip to arch rivals and Liverpool a week on Sunday, a trip to Burnley in the Premier League and the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final tie at City.
Defenders Eric Bailly and Axel Tuanzebe are nearing returns from injury, but there are concerns over how soon they will be fully fit.
Bailly (knee) has not played in over five months and is expected to play for the Under-23s before returning to the first-team.
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There is uncertainty over whether Bailly can stay fit, while Tuanzebe has been out for nearly three weeks.
Fellow central defender Marcos Rojo has not played in two months and spent Christmas in his native Argentina amid the possibility of a winter transfer. Rojo, 29, returned to United’s Carrington training complex this week.
Di’Shon Bernard, 19, made his United debut in the Europa League defeat at Astana in November and travelled with the squad to Watford as defensive cover last month.
United also have injury problems in midfield, with potential first-choice pairing Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay both currently sidelined.
