The January window is a month and a half away and rumors of potential transfer moves are already beginning to mount up around England.

While they were able to add some players during the summer window, Manchester United are still lacking a holding midfielder, quality centre-backs and a serviceable right-back.

Despite spending over £150 million this summer, United were only able to bring one centre-back before Deadline Day; Sporting Lisbon defender Marcos Rojo. Louis van Gaal elected to sign the young, versatile Argentinian and hoped to give the rest of United’s returning centre-backs (Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones) enough time to prove they could fit into his new philosophy at the club.

Unfortunately for Van Gaal, injuries have ravaged his entire squad; most notably in defense. And the returnees were not impressive during their short stints in the United lineup.

The club has used twelve different centre-back combinations in just eleven Premier League games this season. The severity of the United’s injuries have forced Van Gaal to use a midfielder and two teenagers in central defense during the early campaign.

Despite the injury toll, United are within striking distance of the league’s top four, as well as a birth in next season’s Champions League.

With that said, January has always proven a difficult time to acquire players who are ready to step in and make a difference right away at a new club. It has also been revealed that Van Gaal and Woodward have identified targets for next summer and will only make a move for a player during the upcoming window under the right circumstances.

When asked this week about the possibility of making more signing in January while on a conference call with investors, Woodward admitted there was a ‘low probability’.

“We’re not looking to enter the market for short-term fixes. However, we have targets that we are looking at for next summer and should any of those become available in January, which is rare, we will consider acting,” the United CEO said.

“But in terms of expectations we all need to recognize that’s a low probability.”

The following is an assessment of some of the players who have recently been linked with a move to Old Trafford:

1. Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa) –

Prior to last week, the Dutch international had told Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert that he would remain at the club past the January window. But Vlaar’s agent Arnold Oosteveer surprised many by announcing last Thursday that it was time for the hulking centre-back “to make a nice big move”.

The Aston Villa captain’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season and it is now understood that he will be allowed to talk to clubs during the coming transfer window.

Vlaar’s relationship with former Holland national team coach Louis van Gaal has once again led to speculation that the defender will reunite with the Dutch boss in Manchester. The English press linked the player with a move to Old Trafford over the summer, but a bid was never made and the deal never materialized.

It is believed that United were looking for younger centre-back options at the time (Vlaar is 29-years-old). But with the club currently searching for leadership and healthy bodies, they may turn to the Premier League-hardened Villa captain.

The negatives with Vlaar are his age and his history of injury. With United already seeing 39 players injured since Van Gaal’s arrival in July, the club will be hesitant to seek the Holland international’s signature. But it won’t stop the British press from linking his name with United.

Vlaar estimated value is between £10-15 million.

Likelihood of Vlaar joining United in January: Doubtful.

2. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) –

Former Scotland international and current BBC pundit Pat Nevin urged United’s manager to sign the Dutch centre-half in September. Van Gaal is familiar with the 23-year-old from his time with Holland’s Under-19 and Under-21 squads. The former national team coach spent time last season observing Van Dijk’s development after the player made his move from Groningen to Celtic Park.

But Nevin stated in September that the six-foot four-inch centre-back would be the perfect signing for Van Gaal in January.

“There is no doubt whatsoever that they [United] need another major centre-half who was powerful, and preferably one who can play from the back,” Nevin said. “I’m almost describing to a tee a player like Van Dijk, who is playing for Celtic at the moment.”

“If I was a Manchester United, and Celtic fans wouldn’t thank me for it, I’d be on the phone and get Van Dijk down to Manchester United. He is absolutely nailed on to be a player who could have done the job.”

“Even if it was for a short period of a year or two, before they got someone who is world class. You never know, Van Dijk could have grown into that.”

What makes the Dutch centre-back a likely target of United is that he is young and experienced in Europe. Celtic’s board of directors have also shown that they are more concerned with profiting from players sales than investing in the club’s on-field achievements. So a deal could be made.

Van Dijk has also not distanced himself from transfer speculation. While maintaining that he was “happy” at Celtic, the defender did express during a recent interview that he had other “ambitions”.

“I have ambitions but Celtic is an amazing club with a lot of history. There is no rush to leave, but you never know in the future,” the 23-year-old defender said.

The question for United fans is, does Louis van Gaal see the defender as a United player?

Van Dijk’s estimated value is £10-15 million.

Likelihood of Van Dijk joining United in January: Possible.

3. Ezequiel Garay (Zenit St. Petersburg) –

He’s baaaaack…

Most United supporters are aware of the seemingly never-ending transfer rumors that surrounded the 28-year-old defender while he was playing for Benfica. The club’s scouts were constantly seen observing the Argentine defender while he was plying his trade in Portugal over the past few seasons.

But in June, the Argentinian surprised most experts when he chose to sign for the Russian Premier League side, Zenit St. Petersburg. Once again it was believed that age played an issue in United’s decision to back away from a move for the central defender. At that point, it appeared that the door of Garay’s future at Old Trafford had officially been closed.

Now it appears to be re-opened – slightly.

Garay joined Zenit for £12 million from Benfica this summer, and United believe an offer equal to that amount would be good enough to convince the Russian side to let him leave.

While the deal would provide United with a powerful central defender, Zenit may balk at any approach being that they are still actively competing in Europe. The Russians will not want to let the player go for cheap with a Europa League campaign looming, should the club fail to qualify for the Round of 16 once the Champions League group stages are complete.

Though United’s Argentinian constituency of Angel di Maria and Marcos Rojo may be able to convince Garay to pressure the Russian club into allowing him to make the overdue switch to Old Trafford.

But once again, age may play a factor in United’s interest in the defender.

Garay’s estimated value is between £10-15 million.

Likelihood of Garay joining United in January: Doubtful.

4. Winston Reid (West Ham) –

Reid has been rumored to be a defensive target of Premier League rivals Arsenal in recent days. Like Vlaar, the 26-year-old is out of contract this summer at West Ham and it is believed the centre-back has refused to negotiate a new deal with the club.

With United’s defensive concerns mounting, it would surprise no one if the club made a move for the young, Premier League-ready defender. Reid has played ninety minutes in ten of West Ham’s eleven league matches this season and was named the ‘Hammer of the Year’ in 2013.

West Ham’s co-owner David Gold expressed his desire to keep Reid at the club, but the New Zealand international doesn’t appear to see his long-term future at Upton Park; despite the club currently sitting in fourth place above both United and Arsenal.

Van Gaal recently witnessed the defender in action at Old Trafford after Reid and his West Ham teammates nearly nicked a late point from United before eventually losing the match, 2-1.

The question is, does the Dutch manager see Reid as a better alternative to a healthy Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and/or Phil Jones? At first glance that answer would appear to be ‘yes’. But does that mean he would help the club in the long-term? United fans will have to wait and see on this one.

Reid’s estimated value is between £10-15 million.

Likelihood of Reid joining United in January: Doubtful.

5. Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao) –

Officials at Athletic Bilbao are known to make a scene when one of their players opt to leave Basque Country in favor of bigger clubs (see the transfer of Ander Herrera to United a few months ago). But Laporte is a 20-year-old France international with a reported £32 million buyout clause at Bilbao and the club may look to unload the player if that number is reached.

It may seem like a lot of money for such a young player. But those who follow Spanish football know that Laporte is one of the best young defenders in the world right now.

The French centre-back is known for his physical playing style, which makes him almost tailor-made for the rugged Premier League.

Of all of United’s potential January transfer targets, this one would be the LEAST likely because the player has expressed that he wants to remain at Bilbao and help the club fight its way back up the La Liga table.

For United fans hoping that former Athletic Bilbao teammate Ander Herrera will convince the French centre-back to leave Basque Country, it has been reported that Laporte recently fired his manager, Arturo Canales (who also represents the Spanish midfielder), because of constant transfer speculation. What hasn’t been confirmed is whether or not the dismissal took place because the defender was unhappy with his name being linked with other clubs, or because the Frenchman wanted his representation to remain a “private matter”.

Laporte is now being represented by an anonymous executive at a private bank, and any dealings for the sought-after centre-back will be kept behind closed doors.

Any move for the defender will likely not come off until the summer, and his signature will be chased by a list of European clubs.

Laporte’s estimated value is £32 million.

Likelihood of Laporte joining United in January: Slim to none.

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