Manchester United’s Dutch manager Erik ten Hag (R) congratulates Manchester United’s English striker … [+] Marcus Rashford (L) at the end of the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on December 27, 2022. – Manchester United wins 3 – 0 against Nottingham Forest. – RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
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Just days after the end of the 2022 World Cup, a smirk spread across Erik ten Hag’s face as he was asked about the quality of Cody Gakpo. The 23-year-old had been one of the stars of the tournament for the Netherlands and was, at the time, strongly linked with a move to Manchester United. Ten Hag’s expression was taken as confirmation of interest.
Ultimately, though, Gakpo completed a transfer to Liverpool instead, leaving United unsatisfied in their pursuit of the Dutch attacker. Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure over the World Cup break has left a hole in ten Hag’s attacking ranks and the hope was that Gakpo would help fill it. Now, there are unanswered questions.
Primarily, it remains to be seen if Manchester United will enter the transfer market for an alternative target. Ten Hag’s comments after the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest suggested he is still keen to find a new striker, although options in the January transfer window will almost certainly be limited.
10 December 2022, Qatar, Lusail: Soccer: World Cup, Netherlands – Argentina, final round, … [+] quarterfinal, Lusail Stadium, Netherlands’ Cody Gakpo gestures. Photo: Tom Weller/dpa (Photo by Tom Weller/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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“We are always in the market but it has to match the sporting criteria but also the financial criteria and we will do what we can to bring that player in that we need,” he said before addressing Liverpool’s capture of Gakpo. “I am not looking at other teams, I am looking at our team. I am convinced in the players we have, individual and as a team, that we can compete with those other teams.”
Manchester United have options in the attack. Marcus Rashford is currently in exceptional form having scored 10 goals in all competitions this season while Anthony Martial has demonstrated his suitability for ten Hag’s approach as a centre forward who is also capable of playing on the left wing.
Antony has yet to find top form since joining United from Ajax in the summer transfer window, but the Brazilian winger has given ten Hag the width he required on the right side of his attack. Then there’s Alejandro Garnacho, the Argentinean teenager who has made his first team breakthrough this season, and Jadon Sancho, who is still finding the fitness needed to play under ten Hag.
Manchester United’s French striker Anthony Martial (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his … [+] team second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on December 27, 2022. – RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
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Ten Hag, however, doesn’t have the elite level number nine that so many of his rivals boast. If Manchester United are to spend big in the transfer market in the not-so-distant future, it will surely be on a world-class striker who can lead the line and find the back of the net. That’s where United’s biggest deficiency is.
Victor Osimhen would tick a lot of boxes, but the Nigerian striker would be expensive. What’s more, Napoli are unlikely to be willing to let one of their best players depart when they are in the midst of a Serie A title challenge. Finding the right number nine in January will be tricky. Manchester United might have no choice but to wait.