Jose Mourinho identifies top two January transfer targets for Manchester United and demands backing

Jose Mourinho has identified two players he wants to sign in January [Courtesy]

Jose Mourinho has shrugged off pressure following recent poor form to demand two new signings in January.

The Portuguese wants the club to prove he has a long-term future by sanctioning the arrival of two new players to help solve a problem area of the side.

Finding a reliable centre-back partnership has proved difficult for Mourinho, with his own signings Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof failing to impress.

And that recent lack of faith factors into Mourinho's ideal transfer window for January, with the win over Newcastle likely to buy him some time to show he can still be the man to lead the club moving forwards.

Mourinho hopes United will do their mid-season shopping in Milan, with Inter's Milan Skriniar and AC Milan's Alessio Romagnoli his ideal signings, according to ESPN.

AC Milan's Alessio Romagnoli is admired by Mourinho [Courtesy]

Both players could play for United in the knock-out stages of the Champions League, should they get there, following the competition's recent rule changes.

Mourinho is thought to believe he was not backed to the full extent he expected, and that he believes it is key in the side's early struggles this term.

Inter's Milan's Milan Skriniar is also a target for the Portuguese [Courtesy]

A plea has now been submitted to executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to rectify the situation once the January window opens.

Both players are valued at around £40m, which could leave Lindelof and Bailly, who cost more than £60m combined, with uncertain futures at Old Trafford moving forward.