Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic has said that Manchester United are definitely attempting to sign a striker in the January transfer window.
🚨🚨🌕| #mufc are DEFINITELY trying for a striker. All indications are on loan or low cost. Depay and Choupo-Moting have been mentioned as realistic targets.
[@lauriewhitwell]— centredevils. (@centredevils) January 5, 2023
The United journalist reported that all signs are pointing towards United signing a player on a low transfer fee or a loan signing, which has brought Memphis Depay and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting into the mix as United desperately try to bolster their forward line.
Both Depay and Choupo-Moting would be good options for United because they would be affordable, but either player is not the long-term answer to United’s striker issues. However, United could get away with signing either Depay or Choupo-Moting for the next six months and hope that the new owners are in place for the start of the summer transfer window so that United can invest heavily in a traditional number nine because this is what United need.
Even though ten Hag is desperate for a striker to fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo, who left the club in November, he insists that United must sign a striker that will improve the squad, so essentially he is looking for someone with quality.
The Dutchman was asked whether United could qualify for the Champions League without signing a striker in the winter, ten Hag said: “I think we have a good team when all the players are available. But with many games coming up, I think there is a need.
“But you need one who can have an impact, otherwise you are just burning money and you don’t strengthen the squad and it doesn’t help you” [via The Athletic].
Currently, United only have two recognised strikers in Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial and because of this ten Hag is having to carefully manage the fitness of Martial as he has been substituting him in the second half of matches.
Next up for United is an FA Cup clash against Everton at Old Trafford in the third round of the FA Cup, and this game allows United to make a strong start in the competition and qualify for the fourth round.