Man Utd dream January window as Semenyo U-turns and £180m double deal completed

Manchester United could be in for a hectic January window with Ruben Amorim looking to add further quality to his squad. It has been a mixed campaign for the Red Devils, who have improved since last season but remain adrift of the Premier League's top five. Their form has been plagued by inconsistency and they will need to find a solution in order to secure Champions League qualification.

A productive winter window could be the difference between returning to Europe and missing out for the second season in a row. Several big names have already been linked with United, who splashed nearly £220million on transfers during the summer. It remains to be seen how things will shape up next month, but it could turn out to be a busy one at Old Trafford.

Express Sport takes a look at the dream scenario for United...

Semenyo rejects City

United have been credited with a desire to land Antoine Semenyo, but the prospect of a move appears to be dwindling. He is said to prefer the idea of joining Manchester City while Chelsea entered the race by making initial contact with Bournemouth, but ruled out any further approaches.

The ideal outcome for United would see Semenyo turn down advances from other Premier League clubs and commit to an Old Trafford switch. However, with the likes of City and Chelsea in better positions, the Red Devils would need to make a convincing case.

The forward, who has scored eight Premier League goals so far this season, reportedly has a release clause of around £65m. It is only active for the first weeks of the January window, meaning United would have to act quickly to secure his signature at that price.

Baleba finally joins

Carlos Baleba was a target for United during the summer but the Red Devils were ultimately priced out of a move. Brighton were unwilling to sell the midfielder for less than nine figures and he ended up staying at the Amex Stadium.

Their stance does not appear to have changed since then, meaning it would still take a huge amount of money to snap him up.

United, however, would be getting a quality Premier League midfielder with huge potential by meeting Brighton's asking price of around £100m. That figure could repay itself in the years to come if he develops into a world-class player.

Wharton signs too

United have also been linked with a move for Crystal Palace playmaker Adam Wharton, who has taken to life in the Premier League like a duck to water since joining the Eagles from Blackburn Rovers.

He is now an England regular and looks destined for a move to a bigger club in the not-too-distant future. Whether that happens in the January window remains to be seen.

Palace are reluctant to sell Wharton in the middle of the season and have upped their valuation to more than £80m, according to The Guardian. It could be worth every penny for United, though, as they seek a return to the Premier League's upper reaches in the coming months.