02 January 2024 , 12:25
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Manchester United are hoping to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window and a new striker is on their radar.
Erik ten Hag's side have struggled for goals this season, with only Burnley and Sheffield United scoring less than them so far. They forked out £72million to sign Rasmus Hojlund over the summer, but the 22-year-old is not the finished article.
He has scored just once in the Premier League, while back-up striker Anthony Martial has never been a prolific goalscorer and last season's top scorer Marcus Rashford is struggling for form. As a result, a new forward is being targeted and the Athletic have revealed four players the club are considering moves for.
Bayern Munich duo Thomas Muller and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting have both had less game time this season following Harry Kane's move to Germany, with the majority of their Bundesliga appearances coming off the bench.
And the report states that United 'have watched' Muller, although he did sign a one-year contract extension last month. Choupo-Moting, meanwhile, is being considered as a 'low-cost loan' option in the same vein as United's January signings of Odion Ighalo and Wout Weghorst.
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Former Chelsea striker Timo Werner is another option, with United making contact with RB Leipzig to discuss how much a potential deal could cost. Stuttgart star Serhou Guirassy, who has scored 17 league goals in 14 games so far this season, has also been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford.
Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting have been linked with Manchester United (Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)Guirassy has a £15.2million release clause in his contract, but Financial Fair Play rules mean United do not have much money to play with in January after spending more than £200m on the likes of Hojlund, Andre Onana and Mason Mount over the summer.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's recent purchase of a 25 percent minority stake in the club will alleviate those pressures, but it is unlikely to help them this month with the deal still yet to be ratified by the Premier League. As a result, any move to sign Guirassy will likely depend on outgoings.
Donny van de Beek has already completed a loan switch to Eintracht Frankfurt with an option to buy and the report adds that Martial, exiled winger Jadon Sancho, veteran midfielder Casemiro and former Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane could also be on the move.