Manchester United may attempt to acquire a low-cost striker this month, and they have already made an approach for a former Premier League attacker.
Rumours about a Manchester United striker
Under Erik ten Hag, the Red Devils have struggled in the final third this season, scoring 22 goals in 20 games, with only Burnley and Sheffield United scoring less in the Premier League.
Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund are the club’s leading scorers in all competitions, albeit the latter has only one league goal to his record since joining from Atalanta in the summer.
As a result, a new forward appears to be required in 2024, and the team has the possibility to sign one for the second half of the season during the January transfer window. A number of attacking players, including RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner, who was thought to be a summer target, have been linked with a move to Old Trafford.
Old Trafford has released a new update, with funding expected to be short this winter.
Timo Werner has been contacted by Manchester United
On Tuesday, The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell and Dan Sheldon provided a Man United transfer update, focusing on the club’s objectives for the January transfer window. Ten Hag is unlikely to receive much money this month, however a new center-forward appears to be the priority, so ‘United might squeeze out another low-cost loan’. When it came to probable temporary additions, they said on Werner:
“Contact has also been made to inquire about Timo Werner of RB Leipzig, who has scored twice in eight Bundesliga games this season.” Werner was a United target before moving to Chelsea in 2020. United is keeping an eye out for that type of ready-made striker.”
Serhou Guirassy of Stuttgart has also been mentioned, albeit he is scheduled to play in the African Cup of Nations in January.
Werner, a former Chelsea player, has faced United four times in his career, all with the Blues. During the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, he played twice at Old Trafford and drew both times.
Werner is back in the Bundesliga with Leipzig, where he has scored 18 goals in 54 appearances, bringing his career total to 113 goals in 213 games. (RB Leipzig numbers courtesy of Transfermarkt)
Still 27 years old, he appears to be a player of interest at Old Trafford for a long time, so if a loan move is possible this month, it may make sense to provide competition to the likes of Hojlund for the remainder of the season, following in the footsteps of Odion Ighalo in 2020 and Wout Weghorst last season when it comes to low-cost temporary options in attack ahead of the summer.