Chelsea flop Alvaro Morata 'is an option for Man United to sign on loan' as Ronaldo's replacement

Chelsea flop Alvaro Morata is reportedly an option for Manchester United to sign on loan to replace Cristiano Ronaldo as the club try to move on from being gazumped by Liverpool for the signing of Cody Gakpo.

One of United's prime targets had been the 23-year-old PSV Eindhoven star but the Red Devils lost out to rivals Liverpool.

With all the uncertainty surrounding the Glazer's sale of the club, as well as the heavy summer spend, United are restricted to the loan market for now.

And according to ESPN, Erik ten Hag has told United bosses that he is annoyed that the club could not afford to sign Gakpo - who has agreed to sign for Liverpool in a £44m deal.

Sources have also said that United did not make an official bid for Gakpo because they couldn't match the financial package offered by the Reds.

While United have all but ruled out signing former West Ham star Mark Arnautovic, they are reportedly keen on Atletico Madrid striker Morata, as long as the Spanish giants are willing to listen to loan offers.

It comes after Ten Hag confirmed that the club are in the market for a No 9 in January, especially following Ronaldo's explosive exit from the club.

With injury-prone Anthony Martial the only recognised No 9, Ten Hag is looking for an out-and-out reliable goalscorer.

After his side's 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night, he said: 'I think we are always in the market but it has to match the sporting criteria and also the financial criteria.'

Morata previously spent two seasons at Chelsea but struggled to make an impact in west London after his £60million arrival - scoring 24 times for the Blues.

The Spain international was then shipped out on loan to Atletico Madrid in 2019, before making his move permanent a year later.

Morata then spent two seasons on loan at Italian outfit Juventus, netting 32 goals in 92 appearances for the Bianconeri, before moving back to Atletico.

This season the Spain international has scored five goals in 20 games for the club - with all of them coming in La Liga.

The striker scored three times for Spain during the World Cup in Qatar before his country's shock exit to Morocco in the last-16.