Manchester United Draw Up A Versatile Striker Wishlist: Who Will Be Their Best Option?| Opinion

Manchester United have piled up a four-man striker shortlist to bolster their attack in this winter transfer window after an unproductive first half of the season.

The Red Devils’ transfer plans have been left in shreds, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe restricted to just a handful of loan deals. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has completed his 25 per cent minority takeover at Old Trafford but the club must comply with spending rules this month. This means Erik ten Hag will have to be content with one or two loan deals.

According to the Athletic, Manchester United have set their sights on Timo Werner, Thomas Muller, Serhou Guirassy and Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting in their hunt for a potential striker acquisition.

Goals have been a problem for Man United so far this season, with only the bottom two of Burnley and Sheffield United having scored fewer. That profligacy in attack has contributed to Erik ten Hag’s sitting down in seventh, nine points adrift of the top four with over half of the campaign played. Consequently, Ten Hag wants to sign a striker to boost his team’s attacking options for the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.

Is Timo Werner Their Best Option?

After a summer of heavy activity in the transfer market, Ten Hag will be restricted to just a loan or two in the winter transfer window. Rasmus Hojlund was one of many expensive signings made by Man United over the summer, with Andre Onana and Mason Mount also coming in.

Hojlund lit up the Champions League with five strikes in six group-stage games for his new club but has just one Premier League goal to show, while Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial have a grand total of four between them in the top flight. This has prompted the Red Devils to look at the market for a loan signing, with Timo Werner, Thomas Muller and Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting among their options.

Muller and Choupo-Moting’s game time at Bayern Munich have been significantly reduced this season following the arrival of Harry Kane, while Werner has lost his place in the RB Leipzig XI to the outstanding Lois Openda. The fact that Muller and Choupo-Moting have contributed a total of five goals for Bayern this season means they are unlikely to fit into an already misfiring forward line at Old Trafford.

Werner hasn’t exactly pulled up trees in the Bundesliga this term either, and despite a decent start to his second stint at RB Leipzig, he has fallen down the pecking order under manager Marco Rose. Lois Openda, Benjamin Sesko and Yussuf Poulsen are all ahead of him and Leipzig are ready to sanction a loan exit for the Germany international.

While Timo Werner is yet another goal-shy option under consideration, his electric pace and ability to press from the front has never been an area of complaint. The 27-year-old’s versatility—capable of playing on both flanks or as a No.9—also make him a better option to have from the bench than either of his Bundesliga counterparts.

The German forward’s confidence has been shot to pieces for some time now, and if Ten Hag could help lift his spirits and guide him well, he could turn out to be a fine signing on a short-term deal for Man United. Also, Werner’s profile fits into Ten Hag’s philosophy more readily than Choupo-Moting or Muller, so the Red Devils would be wise to get the ex-Chelsea striker on their books for the remainder of the campaign.