Manchester United will be without Bruno Fernandes after their influential captain suffered a soft tissue injury during the Red Devils’ 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday. The Portuguese star could miss at least a month of action after being forced off at the interval, according to The Telegraph.

United are struggling for numbers in midfield, with Kobbie Mainoo absent for the trip to Villa Park after sustaining an injury in training. The England international could be on his way out of Old Trafford in January anyway after failing to nail down a starting place under Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils are in desperate need of reinforcements in the centre of the pitch following Fernandes’ setback. And Express Sport looks at four emergency signings the 13-time Premier League champions could make in the New Year.

Elliot Anderson

Manchester United have been tracking Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson this season, with a host of clubs pursuing the midfielder due to his scintillating performances at the City Ground.

Anderson, who could start for England at next summer’s World Cup, looks likely to move on next year anyway. And if United would pay big money to get their hands on the 23-year-old in the summer, they may as well make their move early and entice him to Old Trafford as soon as possible.

Ruben Neves

United have also been linked with former Wolves ace Ruben Neves, who is currently playing for Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.

Neves, 28, excelled in England before moving to the Middle East in the summer of 2023 and is still a regular starter for Portugal. And Amorim may be able to persuade Al-Hilal to sanction a loan move in January with the view of making the deal permanent in the summer.

Conor Gallagher

Another United target currently plying their trade overseas is ex-Chelsea star Conor Gallagher. The 25-year-old appears to have fallen out of favour at Atletico Madrid after making a big impression when he first arrived in Spain in the summer of 2024.

United could do with Gallagher’s physical presence at the heart of their midfield, and Atletico would surely be open to offloading the player.

Joao Gomes

Amorim could also turn to current Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, who has spent the last three years at Molineux after moving to England from Flamengo at the start of 2023.

Gomes is enduring a miserable campaign with Wolves, with his side needing a miracle to retain their place in the Premier League after failing to win a match all season. And the 24-year-old Brazil international would surely jump at the chance to end his Wolves career and move to Old Trafford as soon as possible, as he targets a place in Brazil’s World Cup squad.