A transfer source has revealed that Manchester United may launch a desperate bid to sign Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting before the transfer deadline tonight.
Erik ten Hag is keen to provide his team further offensive depth as he aims to finish the season on a high note.
Anthony Martial’s injury has made United weak upfront and the Dutch manager needs more attacking options. But rather than the transfer deadline tonight, it is more possible that United will sign a new forward in the summer.
Transfer expert Ben Jacobs told FourFourTwo: “[Jim] Ratcliffe has inherited the financial fair play problems.
“It’s stopping them from signing an older or more stop-gap type striker in this window like an Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting, and it’s why they felt they couldn’t financially, or feasibly, even because of Daniel Levy, enter the race for Harry Kane.
“I think that Choupo-Moting won’t happen unless Manchester United go against Ten Hag’s word and get him in this window. Because by the time the summer comes along, there’ll be other targets and there’ll be younger targets.
“But he’s still a kind of budget option that Manchester United have looked at very closely.
“And then there’s obviously Brian Brobbey as well who Erik Ten Hag tried for in his first summer window.
“He’s not necessarily the right fit, because he’s young, he’s not proven Premier League experience and he doesn’t have three, four seasons of 15, 20 plus goals.
“But because of the Ten Hag factor – if he’s still there – and because this season’s form, as a young profile at a more budget price, certainly under £40m, I would imagine he’s one that Ten Hag puts forward.”
It’s Martial on the field that makes us weaker up front.