Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has admitted that the team will be searching for a striker in January following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure last month.
Due to Ronaldo’s departure, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are now Ten Hag’s only two recognised strikers.
Prior to the January transfer window, United are considering their options, but Ten Hag has suggested a fresh signing may be required. United has had trouble scoring goals, even with Ronaldo, during the season’s early going.
With 20 goals, they have the fewest goals scored among the top eight teams in the Premier League, but Ten Hag believes that Rashford, fresh off a productive World Cup in which he scored three goals, may step in and fill the void.
Ten Hag believes United has players in Alejandro Garnacho, Anthony Elanga, and Facundo Pellistri who can fill the void left by five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo, but he also said he would be willing to sign a striker if a good opportunity comes through. As reported by Sky Sports, he said:
“Two things. Impulse can come from our own club—see Garnacho, see Elanga, see Pellistri, who made a good impression at the World Cup and also in training. That is first.”
“Second, yes, we are aware we lost a striker, so I think we have to get a striker in, but it has to be the right one. The right one is a player that brings quality to the team, not just numbers, because that only causes problems. And you know the criteria are high here at Manchester United.”
United have already lost their battle in the race to sign Cody Gakpo. League rivals Liverpool have signed the player under the club’s nose.
The Red Devils will need to look for other alternatives in the form of Portuguese star Goncalo Ramos, Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, and Napoli frontman Victor Osimhen. A move for Harry Kane can’t be ruled out, but it looks increasingly difficult to see him leave Tottenham Hotspur in the middle of the season.
A loan move for Joao Felix is also on the cards, and Atletico Madrid may ask for a fee of £8 million for his services.
