Eight matches without a win, a 3-0 thumping by Bournemouth, and a 14th-place Premier League standing have left Michael Carrick under severe pressure at Old Trafford.
The problems do not stop there, with Benjamin Sesko now expected to miss competitive football until at least January 2027 due to a persistent shin injury that has refused to heal.
Fabrizio Romano, citing The Athletic, confirmed that Manchester United are unwilling to rush the 23-year-old Slovenian back before he is fully fit, ruling him out for the foreseeable future.
That combination of poor form and a lengthy striker absence has reportedly forced the club to look at emergency attacking reinforcements for the January transfer window.
According to the Daily Mail, United are exploring a surprise approach for Leeds United forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, a player who represents one of their most storied rivals.
The 29-year-old England international has been one of the Championship’s standout performers since arriving at Elland Road on a free transfer from Everton in the summer of 2025.
Calvert-Lewin scored 15 goals during his debut season at Leeds and has carried that momentum into the current campaign, adding five more goals across ten appearances.
Those 20 Leeds goals form part of a career total of 109 across 374 appearances, a record that underlines his proven ability to deliver at multiple levels of the game.
While Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo offer versatility in advanced areas for United, neither is a natural centre-forward in the mould Carrick’s struggling side currently requires.
Calvert-Lewin’s physicality and aerial presence would give United an attacking reference point they have clearly lacked during their difficult run of results this season.
However, persuading Leeds to sell their leading scorer midway through a campaign they presumably want to win will be a significant obstacle for United’s recruitment team.
The historic and bitter rivalry between the two clubs adds another layer of difficulty to any potential negotiation, making Leeds understandably reluctant to strengthen a direct competitor.
For United’s hierarchy, though, the appeal is obvious: a proven Premier League goalscorer available without the long-term financial commitment of a permanent deal, bridging the gap while Sesko recovers.
Calvert-Lewin’s career revival at Elland Road has restored the confidence that defined his most productive years at Everton, where he scored 71 goals in 273 appearances, suggesting he has plenty left to offer at the top level.
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