Manchester United's desperation to sign a striker in the January transfer window comes as no surprise after Lisandro Martinez's candid admission.
The Red Devils have been mediocre in front of goal this season, with just 23 goals in their first twenty Premier League matches. Even more damning, Ruben Amorim's men have failed to find the net in eight of their top games this season, indicating a lack of quality up front.
It is therefore unsurprising that the Old Trafford hierarchy are reportedly willing to do whatever it takes to land Randal Kolo Muani from PSG. According to Sky Germany, the Red Devils' attempts to sign the Frenchman are becoming more concrete after they recently held talks with his representatives and are now expected to start negotiations with the Parisian giants.
They have also been linked with Victor Osimhen, who is currently on loan from Napoli to Galatasaray. The Sun reports that United want to buy the £62million-rated Nigerian in a player-plus-cash deal, with Marcus Rashford going the other way. Such links with strikers in January suggest United bosses have heeded defender Martinez's call for more quality in front of goal.
Previewing United's Premier League defeat to Wolves on Boxing Day, the Argentine centre-back identified a lack of clinical finishing as a major factor in the side's problems this season. He told Telemundo Deportes: “It's just that the results are not to our liking, but honestly I am calm and collected. We know what we want; we have a coach who also knows very well what he wants.
“Unfortunately we don't score any goals. I think we create a lot of chances, and it becomes difficult if we concede a lot of goals. The first goal in a match is of course crucial. However, we must be patient, because we also have many positive things to take into account. We have to keep improving, look at our mistakes, be self-critical and move forward.”
Before that match against Wolves, Amorim's men had lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth. They lost 2-0 to Wolves and 2-0 to Newcastle after his comments before ending their goal drought in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool this month.
United's problems in attack largely stem from the signings of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, who have been signed in the past two years but have struggled in Manchester. They have scored just five league goals this season and neither got on the scoresheet on Sunday ahead of the penalty shootout against Arsenal in their FA Cup third round match, with United triumphing in a dramatic encounter.
United are said to be convinced that January signing Kolo Muani is the right signing to turn their fortunes around this season and are desperate to land him. The 13th-placed side are believed to be considering a move but would prefer the deal to include a clause that would allow them to eventually buy the 26-year-old.
However, Kolo Muani has scored just 11 goals in 54 appearances for PSG since joining the club for £76m from Eintracht Frankfurt in September 2023. He has started just two games in Ligue 1 this season, scoring twice, with PSG boss Luis Enrique refusing to be involved. him consistently.
He has a more impressive tally of eight goals in 27 appearances for France and played a crucial role coming off the bench in the 2022 World Cup final before France lost to Argentina on penalties.
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