Man Utd pull plug on £45m transfer as ‘plan b’ sees them ‘prioritise loan’ deal involving Chelsea star

Erik ten Hag will not be backed in the winter transfer window as it is being reported that Man Utd will instead ‘prioritise a loan arrival’.

It was initially expected that United would be in the market for a new attacker in January.

This comes after Cristiano Ronaldo left the club last month following his dispute with Erik ten Hag and the club’s hierarchy.

The 37-year-old wanted to leave in the summer but United decided to keep him around.

This has proven to be a mistake in hindsight as the forward butted heads with Ten Hag and was often left on the sidelines in the weeks before the World Cup.

Ronaldo’s departure leaves Man Utd with only Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial as options to play up front.

Rashford has been in sensational form this season but he is arguably at his best when playing on the flanks.

Martial meanwhile has played well when he’s been on the pitch this campaign but he has missed most of United’s games through injury.

Despite this, TEAMtalk are reporting that Man Utd are ‘prepared to rely on that pair and instead of splashing the cash on a front-line forward, will instead prioritise a short-term loan signing’.

United feel that this will see them avoid being ‘cajoled into overpaying in the notoriously treacherous winter window’.

This will lessen the risk of them making a ‘hasty decision’ in January that ‘they may later come to regret’.

United spent over £210m in the summer but Ten Hag would have hoped that they were planning on splashing out to recruit a new forward.

They have been heavily linked with Cody Gakpo in recent weeks after they decided against signing the PSV star in the summer.

He was rated at £25m in the summer but it is now understood that he is valued at around £45m.

TEAMtalk add that Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic is being looked at as a short-term signing until the summer.

Arsenal and Newcastle United have also been linked with the USA international of late.

Towards the end of November, ESPN’s Mark Ogden pointed out that Man Utd will at least “consider a loan move for Pulisic”.

“I’ve been told Manchester United will consider a loan move for Christian Pulisic when the window opens next month,” Ogden said.

He continued: “Man Utd, Arsenal and Newcastle have been made aware by those that represent Pulisic that he is available and keen to move in January.

“I don’t believe Man Utd will be prepared to spend money in January to sign Pulisic. That applies to most clubs in the…