Man Utd's transfer 'desperation' speaks volumes after Lisandro Martinez comments

Manchester United’s desperation to sign a striker in the January transfer window comes as no surprise after Lisandro Martinez’s frank admission.

The Red Devils have been lacklustre in front of goal this season with just 23 goals scored in their opening 20 Premier League matches. An even more damning stat is that Ruben Amorim’s men have failed to find the net in eight of their top flight fixtures this term, signalling a lack of quality up front.

It is unsurprising, therefore, that the Old Trafford hierarchy are reportedly ready to do whatever it takes to bring in forward Randal Kolo Muani from PSG. According to Sky Germany, the Red Devils’ efforts to sign the Frenchman are becoming more concrete, having recently held talks with his representatives and now they are expected to enter negotiations with the Parisian giants.

They have also been linked with Victor Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, with The Sun reporting that United want to buy the £62million-rated Nigerian in a player-plus-cash deal which includes Marcus Rashford going the other way. Such links with strikers this January suggests United bosses have heeded the call by defender Martinez for more quality in front of goal.

Speaking ahead of United’s Premier League defeat to Wolves on Boxing Day, the Argentine centre-back identified a lack of clinical finishing as a major factor in the side’s struggles this season. He told Telemundo Deportes: “It's just that the results aren't going our way, but honestly, I'm calm and composed. We know what we want; we have a coach who also knows very well what he wants.

“Unfortunately, we're not scoring goals. I think we're creating many chances, and it becomes difficult when we concede many goals. The first goal in a match is obviously crucial. However, we need to be patient because we also have many positive things to take into account. We need to keep improving, looking at our mistakes, being self-critical, and moving forward."

Before that Wolves game, Amorim’s men had lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth. They went on to lose 2-0 to Wolves and 2-0 to Newcastle after his comments, before ending their goal drought in a 2-2 draw against Liverpool this month.

United’s issues in attack largely stem from £64million signing Rasmus Hojlund and £36.5m Joshua Zirkzee, who were signed over the last two years but have struggled in Manchester. They have managed a mere five league goals between them this season and neither got on the scoresheet on Sunday prior to the penalty shootout at Arsenal in their FA Cup third-round tie, which saw United prevail in a dramatic encounter.

United supposedly believe Kolo Muani is the right signing in January to change their fortunes this season and are desperate to bring him in. The 13th-placed side are believed to be considering a loan move but would prefer the deal to include a clause which would allow them to eventually buy the 26-year-old.

However, Kolo Muani has netted just 11 goals in 54 appearances for PSG since joining the club from Eintracht Frankfurt for £76m in September 2023. He has only started two Ligue 1 games this season, scoring twice, with PSG boss Luis Enrique refusing to involve him consistently.

He has a more impressive tally of eight goals in 27 appearances for France and had a crucial role coming off the bench in the 2022 World Cup final, before France lost to Argentina following a penalty shootout.