La Parra exit may clear way for new striker

League table, but Wagner has far from given up hope for the second half of the campaign.

“We weren’t clinical enough and this is something we have to work on and a problem we have to solve,” said the boss, who switched to a 4-23-1 system for the match.

“If we continue to perform like we have done in recent weeks, and accept this wasn’t the first good performance from my side, then we can collect more points in the second half of the season than we’ve done in the first.”

So does Wagner feel he can solve the problem with the current squad, or does he need to buy someone and is there money to buy someone in January?

Reports suggest Town are competing with Crystal Palace to sign Dominic Solanke on loan from Liverpool. And Wagner’s close friendship with Liverpool boss Klopp could give him the edge.

“I understand your question but, at the end, I will work with the players which I have - this is my group,” he said.

“If we add something, if we can add something, we will see when the window is open. But in general I think everybody knows what our problem is - this is that we are not clinical enough. I think, as we have seen here, performance wise we didn’t look like a team which is bottom of the league.

“The bravery and the confidence is with the players still, they have shown it and we have to keep it and this is exactly what we have to do in the future. Perform like we have done, create opportunities like we’ve done and then we have to end it and score.”

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Van La Parra - who hasn’t figured under Wagner since early October at Burnley - was in Middlesbrough yesterday. Boro boss Tony Pulis is keen to get the deal done and dusted so the Dutchman can make his debut against Derby County on New Year’s Day.

It is believed a loan deal will be agreed to set the wheels in motion towards a permanent deal. Boro lost Adama Traore to Wolves in the summer and are desperate to add some wide-out pace to bolster their chances of improving on fifth place in the Championship during the second half of the campaign.

Town are not short of wing options, having played Elias Kachunga and Isaac Mbenza against United and having signed Ramadan Sobhi and Adama Diakhaby in the summer to add to Collin Quaner.

Were Town to get a decent fee for Van La Parra, it would likely give Wagner more leeway to make the signings he needs to spark the Premier League goals output and improve chances of survival.

I think everybody knows what our problem is - it’s that we are not clinical enough