Manchester United began 2020 with the kind of lacklustre display that has characterised much of their season.

The Red Devils were well beaten in a 2-0 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates on Wednesday, denying them a third consecutive Premier League victory.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men failed to match their hosts’ energy in midfield and appeared to sorely miss the creativity often afforded by Paul Pogba.

The France international, who has made a mere seven top-flight appearances this season, only returned from an ankle injury on 22 December to face Watford.

But following his three-month absence, Pogba played just 26 minutes against the Hornets and then the second half versus Newcastle United before he was left out of United’s last two matchday squads.

It appears the 26-year-old has elected to take the advice of his representatives regarding having surgery to treat his ankle, which, according to Solskjaer, is likely to sideline him for the rest of January.

“It is nothing major [but] it is something that has to be sorted and dealt with, within a timeframe,” he told the media after the defeat in north London, per Sky Sports.

“He has been advised as soon as [possible] and he will probably do it as soon as [possible].

“So he will be out for three or four weeks probably.”

Irrespective of when Pogba might be available again, Solskjaer has hinted that United will consider mid-season signings to strengthen their bid for achieving a top-four finish.

“Of course it is playing on our decision making when we have two players out – Paul for a month and Scott for two.

“That will give us less options and we have loads of games and important games, but still it has to be right and that is the big point.

“If it’s available and if it’s possible we will do something, definitely. We are looking at one or two.”

According to The Independent, the Norwegian will prioritise bringing in an attacking midfielder, with Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish and James Maddison of Leicester City being his top two targets.

Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen and Sporting Lisbon’s Bruno Fernandes have also been considered, though the report claims United’s interest in them has waned since initial rumours started circulating in the summer.

Grealish and Maddison are level on six Premier League goals so far this season, while the former has two more assists than the latter’s three.

Both players would help address United’s glaring lack of creativity, which has been further highlighted by Pogba’s absence.

That said, it would be a major coup to land either of two of the best-performing midfielders in the country halfway through the campaign.