Manchester United fans will be furious after the Red Devils were beaten by Brighton at the weekend.

Three first-half goals from the Seagulls meant Romelu Lukaku’s strike and a late Paul Pogba penalty were little more than a consolation. Jose Mourinho was desperate to bolster his defence in the summer transfer window to have any hopes of catching Manchester City in the title race. He was proved right against Chris Hughton’s men with a number of individual mistakes costing them dearly.

The January transfer window is the perfect opportunity to right the wrongs of the summer. A new centre-back should again be a priority, but a new left-back should also be considered. While Luke Shaw has made a decent start after being given a chance in the first-team, United should be looking to upgrade. Reports suggest United will make a move for Juventus defender, Alex Sandro after Paris St Germain dropped their interest in the Brazilian. Instead, they should target his national counterpart – Alex Telles.

Valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt, the Brazilian enjoyed a sensational season in Liga NOS as Porto were crowned champions to deny Benfica their fifth consecutive league trophy. Telles was a crucial player, scoring three and notching an incredible 13 assists from left-back in 30 appearances. He made an excellent start to the new season, scoring and assisting in the 3-2 win over Belenenses.

Telles would be the perfect alternative for Sandro at a fraction of the price. With blistering pace and excellent dribbling skills, the 25-year-old would give Mourinho a massive threat on the left flank as the former Inter Milan defender can also be used as a winger. The addition of Telles would definitely mean even more goals for Lukaku as the defender averaged 3.2 key passes and 3.8 crosses per game last season (WhoScored).

If Mourinho is in the market for a left-back, Telles should be the man he signs.

Manchester United fans, thoughts?