Erik ten Hag says Manchester United need to bring in a striker but has emphasised it ‘has to be the right one’ in terms of quality.
United head into their first Premier League match since the World Cup, Tuesday’s home clash against Nottingham Forest, having scored 20 goals in their 14 top-flight fixtures so far this season and after Cristiano Ronaldo left the club last month.
The news comes a day after bitter rivals Liverpool hijacked the Red Devils’ move for Cody Gakpo, with Jurgen Klopp’s side agreeing a £44million deal with the PSV and Holland star – leaving United fans enraged.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has admitted his side must sign a striker in January
But it will not be Cody Gakpo, after Liverpool agreed a £44million deal with him on Boxing Day
Holland and PSV star Gakpo, who impressed at the World Cup, is set for a medical at the Reds
The limbo status of the club’s ownership, with United only pursuing loan deals rather than buying players in the January transfer window as the Glazer family look to sell up, looks to have cost them in their pursuit of Gakpo.
Boss Ten Hag was asked ahead of the game if he felt United needed to sign a goalscorer in January to give themselves the best possible chance of achieving their aims this term but insisted players already at Old Trafford must be developed.
He said: ‘First, that can also come out of our club – see (Alejandro) Garnacho, (Anthony) Elanga, (Facundo) Pellistri, who made a good impression at the World Cup (for Uruguay). And, yes, we are aware we lost a striker, so I think yes, we have to get a striker in.
‘But it has to be the right one, and the right one is the one… he needs to bring the quality in the team, and not just an add to the squad, because that gives you only problems. And. you know, the criteria is high here at Man United.’
Ten Hag also feels Marcus Rashford has it in him to contribute 20 league goals in a campaign.
Veteran Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract was terminated on November 22, creating a gap up top
United are only pursuing loan deals rather than permanent moves in the January transfer window as the Glazer owners look to sell the club – which has cost them in pursuit of Gakpo
While Rashford has four to date this season, he has netted nine times for United in all competitions, most recently an excellent solo effort in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup win over Burnley, and also scored three goals for England at the World Cup.
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