The January transfer window is now just days away and Manchester United need to act.
Things have started well under Erik ten Hag but if United want to ensure that positive work is capitalised upon then they need to provide him with some extra firepower in the market. United were already low on numbers before Cristiano Ronaldo's sudden departure.
Now they have been left with just two senior striker options, the perenially-injured Anthony Martial and the back-to-form Marcus Rashford. Ensuring a top-four finish with such a paltry arsenal would be difficult and if United don't get in the Champions League then they can kiss goodbye to signing a certain calibre of striker in the summer, as per the current plan.
MEN writers have assessed which striker the club should go for in the new year.
United have saved £16million in their divorce from Cristiano Ronaldo and there was already a compelling case to reinforce their attack. The impact of Bruno Fernandes, a mid-season addition who was the difference in United qualifying for the Champions League in 2020, is an additional incentive to sharpen up a frontline that has not been ruthless enough in front of goal.
Breel Embolo was tracked by United in 2016, plays in a big five European league (albeit the weakest), has good international pedigree, is 25 but only joined Monaco in the summer. Memphis Depay has played so little football and was so poor for United he would hardly be a statement signing.
Cody Gakpo would have to be converted from a right-footed left winger unless Ten Hag rearranges the attack but he is the easiest and most obvious option, so much so he is represented by the same agency as Ten Hag. Mohammed Kudus has potential but United need to recruit with a summer move for Napoli marksman Victor Osimhen in mind.
The January market is difficult to manoeuvre and options will be limited next month. The 'dream signing' would probably be Victor Osimhen, who has scored 10 goals in 14 games this season, from Napoli but he's valued in excess of £100million.
That sort of outlay in January is highly unlikely, especially when the Glazers are looking to sell the club, so realistically, Cody Gakpo and Alvaro Morata are players who should be considered. Both players would come with risk attached, as Gakpo has predominantly played on the left and Morata was not prolific during his time in the Premier League, but a fresh face is required.
Although Gakpo would be the logical arrival, Morata would be cheaper and he looked in excellent form at the World Cup. He scored just 24 goals in 72 games for Chelsea but he's now a mature player, aged 29, and might fare better for that experience.
A six-month loan for Morata with an option to buy would be advisable and it might be a roll of the dice that could work. If Morata was able to score close to 10 goals in the Premier League on a six-month loan, the move would be considered a success.
The striker that looks perfect for the Premier League is Victor Osimhen but there is no chance he will leave Napoli in January. The Neapolitans are eight points clear in Serie A and cruised into the Champions League last-16. A title and a deep run in Europe will mean Osimhen is a deity in Naples forever more.
So that leaves United with a decision on whether to forget Osimhen in the summer and sign a big-name striker now, or look for a more short-term alternative. Goncalo Ramos is the purest No. 9 that might leave in January and he's been impressive this season. United's last January signing from Portugal excelled as well. But it still feels like a significant step up for the 21-year-old at the moment.
Cody Gakpo and Mohammed Kudus are both options as they could fill a gap in attack for now and could also be moulded to play elsewhere. I'd lean towards Kudus given he will be cheaper and is incredibly versatile.
But the cheapest option and the best short-term solution might be someone familiar to United fans, in Memphis Depay. He didn't leave a good impression at Old Trafford but he's a better and more mature player, is familiar to Ten Hag and is available from Barcelona. It might just make sense and would leave enough in the budget to get an elite-level striker in the summer.