Manchester United are exploring the possibility of securing Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey as they seek reinforcements in attack before the January transfer window closes.

With Marcus Rashford on the verge of finalizing a loan switch to Aston Villa, United are actively searching for a replacement. The England international is set to join Villa on a temporary deal until the end of the season, with the Birmingham-based club agreeing to cover 70 percent of his £325,000-a-week wages.

Furthermore, Villa have negotiated an option to make Rashford’s move permanent in the summer, with a reported transfer fee of £40 million.

United have already expressed interest in Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel as a potential attacking addition, though the young forward recently declined an offer from Tottenham Hotspur. However, according to The Athletic, Bailey has emerged as another potential target for Erik ten Hag’s side, with a loan move being considered if Aston Villa are open to letting him leave.

The 27-year-old Jamaican international was one of Villa’s standout performers last season, registering 10 goals and nine assists in the Premier League. However, his form this term has been less prolific, contributing just one goal and two assists in league play so far.

Bailey joined Aston Villa from Bayer Leverkusen in 2021 for a fee of £25 million and has been an important part of Unai Emery’s squad.

Following Villa’s 2-0 defeat to Wolves on Saturday night, Emery acknowledged the club’s need to reinforce their squad before the transfer window shuts.

“We need to replace Diego Carlos, Emi Buendía, and Jhon Durán,” Emery stated. “It’s not easy because we don’t want just any replacements—we want players who can truly improve us. We are being selective and strategic.”

Villa have already taken steps to strengthen their squad, reaching an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain to sign Marco Asensio on loan for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, Rashford is scheduled to undergo his medical on Sunday as he prepares for his move to Villa Park.

Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel remains open to potential moves to Manchester United or Arsenal after turning down a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs had successfully negotiated a €60 million (£50.2m) agreement with Bayern, contingent on Tel’s approval. Club chairman Daniel Levy even traveled to Munich on Friday to present Tottenham’s proposal personally. However, the 19-year-old forward opted to decline the offer, informing Bayern that he preferred to stay unless another club stepped forward before Monday’s transfer deadline.

According to reports from RMC Sport, only Manchester United and Arsenal are still in contention for Tel’s signature, as both clubs have the potential to persuade him to leave Bayern before the window closes. Meanwhile, Chelsea and Aston Villa have reportedly withdrawn from the race.

Sky Germany has revealed that United have engaged in preliminary discussions with Bayern regarding Tel but have yet to submit a formal bid. Similarly, Arsenal has maintained interest in the French youngster since his €28.5 million (£24.4m) transfer from Rennes in July 2022 but has not taken any concrete steps to secure his services.

Chelsea previously expressed interest earlier this month, yet Tel is reportedly hesitant about joining due to the high level of competition within Enzo Maresca’s squad at Stamford Bridge.

The primary motivation behind Tel’s willingness to leave Bayern stems from limited playing opportunities, as he has started only three matches under Vincent Kompany this season.

Bayern Munich’s sporting director, Max Eberl, confirmed on Wednesday that Tel had initially decided to stay but has since reconsidered his stance.

“Mathys originally wanted to stay and prove himself,” Eberl explained. “Now, he has expressed that he is open to a move, and we have to assess our options. His playing time has been limited, which is understandable from his perspective. Given that we are at the end of January, this situation is more complex for everyone involved. We must determine the best course of action for Mathys and Bayern Munich.”

Chelsea are reportedly eyeing Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel as a potential signing, but they may face stiff competition from Manchester United.

Robert Sanchez’s role as Chelsea’s primary shot-stopper has been questioned in recent weeks due to several costly errors. While manager Enzo Maresca has publicly backed the Spanish goalkeeper, he has not provided assurances about Sanchez’s long-term future at Stamford Bridge.

If Chelsea decide to move on from Sanchez next season, they have internal options such as Filip Jorgensen—who joined from Villarreal last summer—and Djordje Petrovic, who has impressed during his loan stint at Strasbourg. Additionally, Belgian prospect Mike Penders is set to join the squad next season to increase competition in the goalkeeping department.

However, The Independent reports that Chelsea could instead opt to bolster their goalkeeping ranks by pursuing Dortmund’s Kobel. While a January move appears unlikely, the club is expected to push for a summer deal for the Swiss international, despite him being contracted to the Bundesliga side until 2028.

Chelsea will not have a free path to signing Kobel, as Manchester United have maintained long-standing interest in the 27-year-old and could also make a move. United are reportedly assessing their goalkeeping situation and may look to upgrade on Andre Onana, though financial constraints could impact their summer transfer plans.

Dortmund are believed to value Kobel between €70m-80m (£58m-66m), making a potential transfer a significant investment for either Premier League club.

Since joining Dortmund from Stuttgart in 2021, Kobel has made 143 appearances across all competitions and has twice been named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season.

Despite speculation about Onana’s future, former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has expressed confidence in the Cameroonian’s abilities. Speaking to Oddspedia, the Dutch legend backed Onana to establish himself at Old Trafford.

“I think it’s quite early to judge, but Andre [Onana] has a fantastic career ahead of him,” Van der Sar said. “He’s gaining more experience, and he possesses all the qualities a goalkeeper needs. I believe he will continue to improve over the next five to six years.”

Meanwhile, Manchester United are closing in on their first signing under new manager Ruben Amorim, as they finalize a deal to bring highly rated wing-back Patrick Dorgu from Lecce before the January transfer window closes.