Manchester Utd four-striker wish list out
MANCHESTER United have reportedly drawn up a four-man striker shortlist for the January transfer window — but money is very tight at Old Trafford this month.
Despite Sir Jim Ratcliffe's £1,3billion investment, United have little wriggle room when it comes to Financial Fair Play rules having spent big last summer.
Erik ten Hag would ideally bring in another striker to provide support to £72 million signing Rasmus Hojlund.
The Athletic report a loan may be possible this month following on from Wout Weghorst's temporary move from Burnley last season.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, the 34-year-old Bayern Munich forward, is named as one possibility. He has started just three Bundesliga matches so far this season and completed just 519 minutes with Harry Kane in hot form for the German champions.
His Bayern team-mate Thomas Muller, also 34, is named as another option given his limited game time this season — but Muller has just extended his contract, making a move less likely.
United have been in touch with RB Leipzig over former Chelsea striker Timo Werner, who has scored twice in 14 games so far this season.
The Old Trafford club were linked with Werner (27) before he made the move to Stamford Bridge in 2020.
The report adds that if United are able to raise funds from a player sale during January, alleviating their FFP pressures, they could move for Stuttgart hotshot Serhou Guirassy.
The Guinea international (27) has been in blistering form all season with 19 goals in 16 outings.
Guirassy reportedly has a release clause of £15,2m but even that would be a struggle for United given FFP limits. West Ham are among the other clubs interested in the striker.
He has also just been called up for the Africa Cup of Nations, which gets underway in the Ivory Coast on January 13.
Hojlund and Scott McTominay are United's leading goalscorers so far this season with six apiece.
Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro
Garnacho have five apiece, with Casemiro on four, Rashford three and Martial two.
United's January business is mostly expected to concern outgoing players, with Donny van de Beek already sealing a loan move to Eintracht Frankfurt and Sergio Reguilon returning to Tottenham.
There are also reports that United are in talks with Borussia Dortmund over a loan deal for Jadon Sancho, who remains an outcast at Old Trafford.
It came as Ratcliffe visited Old Trafford for the first time since the investment by Ineos was confirmed on Christmas Eve.
The billionaire, 71, will hold meetings at the stadium and also meet Ten Hag and the players at Carrington later in the week.