Manchester United could add to their attacking options before the transfer deadline
Erik ten Hag applauds the Manchester United fans at full time(Image credit: Getty Images)
Manchester United could make a last-ditch attempt to sign Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting in the winter window, according to a transfer insider.
Erik ten Hag is keen to add more attacking depth to his squad for the second half of the season.
However, it is more likely that United will acquire a new forward in the summer rather than before the 11pm deadline on Thursday.
Speaking on January 26, transfer journalist Ben Jacobs told FourFourTwo: "[Jim] Ratcliffe has inherited the financial fair play problems.
"It’s stopping them from signing an older or more stop-gap type striker in this window like an Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting, and it’s why they felt they couldn't financially, or feasibly, even because of Daniel Levy, enter the race for Harry Kane,
Manchester United target Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting of Bayern Muenchen looks on during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and TSG Hoffenheim at Allianz Arena on January 12, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Image credit: Getty Images)
"I think that Choupo-Moting won't happen unless Manchester United go against Ten Hag’s word and get him in this window. Because by the time the summer comes along, there'll be other targets and there'll be younger targets.
"Serhou Guirassy of Stuttgart, who doesn't want to leave in January, is another one that Manchester United have looked at. For some of the winter window, there was a release clause that €17.5m, but that's now expired.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
"But he's still a kind of budget option that Manchester United have looked at very closely.
"And then there's obviously Brian Brobbey as well who Erik Ten Hag tried for in his first summer window.
Anthony Martial will leave Manchester United in the summer (Image credit: Getty Images)
"He’s not necessarily the right fit, because he's young, he's not proven Premier League experience and he doesn't have three, four seasons of 15, 20 plus goals.
"But because of the Ten Hag factor – if he's still there – and because this season’s form, as a young profile at a more budget price, certainly under £40m, I would imagine he’s one that Ten Hag puts forward."
United will return to Premier League action against Wolves on Thursday night.
Greg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014. He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998, and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat).
