Manchester United are in deep distress this season and it doesn’t seem like it is going to end anytime soon. With only a handful days left in the January transfer window, the Red Devils are in the hunt for anything they can call a striker. In the context, 30-year-old former Watford striker Odion Ighalo and Leicester's Islam Slimani (on loan to Monaco) are the latest interests for the club after Bruno Fernandes’ saga has reached the stagnant point.
Marcus Rashford, by far the best United player this season, had to offer everything he had in terms of goals, but unfortunately for the team, he has joined the likes of Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba on the treatment table and is likely to be out from action for at least six weeks. Sources confirmed that he is suffering from a stress fracture on his back.
The starlet has netted 19 times in 31 appearances before getting injured 5 minutes after being brought on against Burnley. Amidst claims of mishandling of the star performer, the Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said, “He’s not had that injury before, no. He complained a little bit after the last time we played Burnley, he felt it the first time". The absence of Rashford means that United have only two forwards left in their arsenal, Anthony Martial, the inconsistent Frenchman and Mason Greenwood, a teenager who still remains a raw protege.
Since the confirmation of the job, Solskjaer has been the very epitome of inconsistency. While defensive woes, lack of creativity in the midfield has been haunting Manchester United, the lack of firepower in front of goal is something Solskjaer had his eyes on. With Lukaku leaving, United currently have no centre forward to lead the line of attack.
United seem so desperate for a striker that they have tried to talk to Carlos Tevez, the same Argentine who brandished "R.I.P Sir Alex" after scoring against United for Manchester City. Ighalo, currently playing for Changchun Yatai, looks more viable for United as Slimani might be a rather complicated target for the club.
Currently on loan at Monaco, the Algerian has scored 7 goals in 13 Ligue 1 appearances. Leicester manager Brendon Rodgers reckoned “I think that looks like it’s probably going to be too complicated. There is interest in him, but he is there at Monaco and due to be there for the season. I’m not sure if anything will happen on that or not, but it will just make it a little bit complicated."
With six days left in the transfer window, signing a striker might come off just like it happened with Chelsea when Conte wanted to sign a striker wherein even the likes of Chris Wood and Callum Wilson were touted as potential candidates, but the Italian ended up signing Olivier Giroud. Now it is to be seen whether anyone moves to the Devils' den or if Ole himself unpacks his playing boots and hits the ground in the next match.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Bulent Kilic, Ben Stansall
