Man Utd have reportedly ‘vowed’ to Erik ten Hag that they will sign an ‘important striker’ in the summer following the short-term addition of Wout Weghorst.
The Red Devils have surprisingly moved pretty swiftly to sign a new striker this month.
They needed one after Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from the club was confirmed at the end of November.
His exit leaves them with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial as options up front, so an alternative solution until the summer would be handy.
Man Utd opted against signing Cody Gakpo before the winger’s move to Liverpool.
United are strapped for cash after spending over £200m in the summer and in their defence, a player like Cody Gakpo is not what they need.
They are instead reportedly tracking Joao Felix, who again would not have been a natural solution for their striker issues.
But Chelsea have usurped United and Arsenal to sign him from Atletico Madrid on an initial loan deal.
Instead, Man Utd are looking to sign Wout Weghorst on loan from Burnley. He flopped in the Premier League last term but this season he has scored nine goals in 18 games while on loan at Besiktas.
The Netherlands international may not play loads for Man Utd before the summer but he will at the very least be a useful option off the bench.
Unless Weghorst is a sensation at Man Utd, they will likely look to sign a long-term replacement for Ronaldo in the summer.
Fabrizio Romano is now reporting that United have ‘made a striker vow to Ten Hag’.
The head coach has been ‘promised a big signing up front’. The report adds.
‘For sure Man United are focused on summer more than January, in the summer they have to go for an important striker,’ Romano wrote for Caught Offside.
‘It’s impossible to make names now also because depends on the club sale situation, but they always told Ten Hag about the plan to invest on a new striker in summer 2023.
‘In terms of specific targets, it depends on too many factors.
‘Victor Osimhen is involved in Serie A race with Napoli, Benjamin Sesko has already signed as Leipzig player, Harry Kane will be in talks with Spurs to decide his future and Antonio Conte’s future will be important too.’
As things stand, Kane’s contract is up in 2024 and Paul Merson thinks he can help Man Utd win the Champions League.
“Everyone talks about Erling Haaland but for me, Kane could deliver similar numbers in that Manchester City team and even add more assists.
“Call me silly but Kane would even give United a chance of winning the Champions League in my opinion.
“He is a machine. Tottenham are only where they are because of Harry Kane, it really is that simple. He is the difference.”
READ MORE: Arsenal lose top spot as we rank the post-World Cup mood at all 20 Premier League clubs
