Man Utd eye striker transfer in January to ease pressure on Hojlund and Ten Hag

2 Nov 2023 20:54 GMT
4 min read

Rasmus Hojlund, Erik ten Hag, Man Utd — © ProShots

Manchester United will aim to sign a striker in January to support Rasmus Hojlund after the youngster’s slow start in the Premier League amid his side’s poor run of form.

Hojlund joined United from Atalanta in the summer for €80 million but has failed to score in seven Premier League appearances despite netting three goals in as many games in Europe.

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While Hojlund has displayed potential with his overall play, his lack of goals has led United to consider how they could ease the pressure on the 20-year-old.

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The Daily Mail state that United believe Hojlund could benefit from working alongside a more experienced centre forward and they will consider adding a more senior striker in the winter.

The report mentions Brentford’s Ivan Toney, who will be available in January after his ban as well as Porto striker Mehdi Taremi and Victor Osimhen of Napoli as players who United have monitored in recent times.

However, United are still struggling with financial constraints, having spent over €200m on players in the summer, although the club are hopeful of sealing a deal for more investment through Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s proposal to buy 25% of the club from the Glazer family in the coming weeks.

Which striker could United target to solve their goalscoring woes?

United’s forward have struggled in front of goal this season, with Marcus Rashford having scored just once in ten Premier League appearances, while Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay are the only players to have grabbed more than one goal.

Anthony Martial is United’s only other striker but the Frenchman has yet to score in eight league games and looks set to leave Old Trafford when his contract expires next summer.

🙃 Of the 25 players to have been presented with at least 5 big chances in the Premier League this season, only two are yet to convert one:

👹 Marcus Rashford
👹 Rasmus Hojlund pic.twitter.com/2QMLMIucwY
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) October 31, 2023

Of the names linked, Taremi would represent the most affordable option, with the 31-year-old into the final year of his contract at Porto, although he has only scored two goals in nine games this season, having topped the goalscoring charts in Portugal last season.

Osimhen would be unlikely to make a move mid-season and would undoubtedly be out of United’s price range, while Toney is hoping to leave Brentford in the next two transfer windows, however their reported asking price of around €85m is unrealistic to most suitors.

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A new striker would also benefit Erik ten Hag, who has come under immense pressure after overseeing a run of eight defeats in 14 games, including five home losses, providing the Dutchman is still in charge in January, with speculation rife over his future.