"We will do everything in our power," Erik ten Hag told the media in Jerez before the season's resumption when quizzed about whether he is looking for a striker in January. "We are doing research at every opportunity, and we will do everything we can if that opportunity is there."
Ten Hag clarified that a forward will be signed only when they are the "right player", which begs the question: who could be that correct fit for Ten Hag's Manchester United side?
First of all, what characteristics does this player need to possess?
Primarily, they have to be a goal-scorer given United don't currently possess any player that is particularly prolific on the goals front. But there are other attributes that Ten Hag will desire from his centre-forward, for example offering value in link-up and acting as a creative figure that is also able to provide assists where possible.
While the successes of Sebastian Haller at Ajax outline Ten Hag's ability to get his sides to function with a striker acting as more of a focal point, positionally flexibility is something that may be useful given the frequency of interchanges displayed by United at times this term. With this considered, it isn't by any means outrageous to consider options suited to the false nine role, similar to Dusan Tadic at Ajax.
Hard work and dynamism are also important - two reasons as to why Ronaldo struggled to adapt under Ten Hag before the somewhat unsavoury ending to his time as a United player.
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It maybe wouldn't be a complete travesty if United don't sign an attacker given functioning existent options, albeit this would be somewhat illogical given the space and money freed up by the offloading of Ronaldo. Given Anthony Martial's unreliability due to his injury-prone nature and Marcus Rashford's preference and greater suitability to playing out wide, it does seem a good idea for United to acquire a player able to fill the central void in the attack.
PSV Eindhoven's Cody Gakpo seemed like one of the primary options, but United have lost out on his signature after Liverpool capitalised on their rivals' seeming hesitation. For a price of under £40million for a player that has been standalone as the best player in the Eredivisie this term, and also someone who excelled at the Qatar World Cup, it is a steal of a fee.
But, for United, it isn't necessarily a disaster and could be a blessing in disguise. While he has traits of a central striker through his physique as well as excellent movement, explosiveness, high echelon finishing, Gakpo would have to adapt to a new league and new position if Ten Hag's plans were to convert him to play as a centre-forward.
Hesitation to make a move for Gakpo amid the opportunity could very well be vindicated. There are definitely more ready-made options...
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Names that have been linked or viewed as suitable options have been selected to evaluate. I have disregarded players that would have been obvious shorter term, stop-gap options - for example Alvaro Morata - as much as this could be a consideration. Ivan Toney would have been a viable option given what he has shown at Brentford, but charges against him for alleged breaches of betting rules mean he isn't a feasible option due to the chance of a ban.
Player ages detailed in this piece are correct as of 1st January 2023, when the transfer window opens. Statistics are accurate to the end of the World Cup and do not account for club matches played since.
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Joao Felix
Age: 23
Club: Atletico Madrid
Nationality: Portuguese
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Joao Felix is a very interesting option. Of the three players linked most heavily, he is the most proven and probably has the highest ceiling for all we can judge. And the fact of the matter is he could be the most attainable in the immediate future given a breakdown in relationship with Diego Simeone points towards an exit from Atletico Madrid as soon as is possible.
He signed with Atleti for a fee in excess of £100million from Benfica in 2019 after a 20-goal season, and it is hard to say he has lived up to the expectation suggested by the price tag. His highest goals tally 10 for a single season for Atleti across all competitions - in both the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, during which he also amassed six assists. Albeit in the former of the campaigns he did feature 40 times as Simeone's side won La Liga.
This season hasn't started well for Felix in terms of the club side of things. He has featured 18 times, but only nine have come from the start. His mere four goals and three assists for club this term outline the room for improvement for Felix. But, at the same time, there are indications that he is suffering under the defensive mind of Simeone, contributing to inconsistency.
Fernando Santos unleashed his Portugal side at times at the Qatar World Cup, and Felix played with greater freedom and excelled as one of his nation's standout performers. A goal against Ghana and pair of assists against Switzerland marked the impact he can have on the biggest stage.
Felix is no doubt a player that is able to provide both goals and assists when in the right system. He is a progressive player particularly prominent as a creative figure, utilising his technical prowess through his ball-carrying and his passing ability. United still struggle to break down low blocks, hence Felix could be an ideal solution given his ability to disjoint defences. He is highly involved in build-up and link play, a nuisance for defenders with his conjoint trickery.
If you want an out-and-out striker, however, maybe his isn't your man. But there is no clarity on the particular profile Erik ten Hag desires. Felix is predominantly a second striker, accustomed to the false nine role that Dusan Tadic played so effectively under Ten Hag at Ajax. Also adept to operating in wide areas, Felix would be able to offer desired fluidity through interchanges within an attack.
As a focal point, there would be concerns as to limitations. While he did score a header in the home leg of Atleti's Champions League win over United last term, in which he impressed, he isn't much of an aerial presence. Additionally, he prefers to get on the ball and create rather than being a prolific recipient of progressive passes. Most of his best work for Atleti has been done outside of the opposing penalty area, though this wasn't always the case at Benfica where he was more active inside the 18-yard box.
There would also be questions as to how Felix may operate as a false nine without an accompanying striker, though he could be able to get the best out of United's wingers. At the same time, he has shown with Portugal that he can combine with Bruno Fernandes effectively.
Ten Hag's ethos is an attacking one, and Felix could still be a goal threat. His expected goals totals indicate he doesn't get into the best scoring areas, but this is a trend for Atleti players in their defensive system, and Felix's overperformance of his xG shows a clinical side of his game when it comes to finishing.
Felix would be a tenacious, inventive presence to add a different dimension to Ten Hag's side. He is an outstanding option, but Atletico Madrid will likely look to recoup as much of the fee paid to Benfica as they could. An initial loan could be an option, however. Any move for Felix would be somewhat of a risk given his streakiness in Spain, but he has huge potential which could be unleashed in an attacking system like Ten Hag's.
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Goncalo Ramos
Age: 21
Club: Benfica
Nationality: Portuguese
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Many may not have been familiar with Goncalo Ramos' trade until the recent weeks, as the 21-year-old rose to prominence in Portugal's 6-1 World Cup victory over Switzerland as they progressed to the quarter-finals. Replacing Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting side, Ramos scored a hat-trick and managed an assist to mark his first World Cup start.
But any acquisition of Ramos wouldn't be reactionary as such. While only a single Champions League goal this term - scored against Maccabi Haifa - isn't outstanding, nine goals in 11 league appearances sees him lead the race for golden boot in the Premeira Liga for emphatic league-leaders Benfica.
His return this campaign is already better than that managed last term after 29 appearances (17 being starts), with nine league goals superior to only seven throughout the 2021/22 season. He has become more of an out-and-out striker since the departure of Darwin Nunez in the summer, different to more of a No.10 or accompanying role for the Uruguayan.
Now the main man in only his second season as a major feature in senior football, Ramos is exhibiting an all-round game. Possibly aided by experience as being secondary to Nunez in a slightly deeper role at times, Ramos is an effective link player who is accurate in his passing and is fairly creative. He is effective when dropping into deeper areas, which is something United need - evidenced by the dysfunctionality when Ronaldo attempted this to little avail.
At the same time, Ramos is efficient as a penalty box striker, where his movement is also important in terms of finding space. He is a clinical finisher in a range of positions and at different ranges, outperforming high expected goals totals which are amassed as a result of his ability to get into scoring areas.
While not an exceeding dribbler statistically, the completeness of Ramos' game is shown by dynamism amid a more physical side to his game at six-foot-one, which sees him win the majority of aerial duels. Off the ball, he is a workhorse - something else that would be to Erik ten Hag's liking.
There is an argument that Ramos has more to prove given relative inexperience as a side's main striker, though that can be caveated with the point that scope to develop further at a still-young age is a positive thing. If Ten Hag desires a striker that can operate as a focal point but also offer value in link-up play with his intelligent movement where necessary, then Ramos can be considered a very viable option.
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Dusan Vlahovic
Age: 22
Club: Juventus
Nationality: Serbian
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Dusan Vlahovic should seriously be considered - not only because he is an elite striker but also due to the fact he could be more attainable than others given the chaos that has ensued at Juventus as a result of a wrath of resignations on their board.
Vlahovic's goal-scoring numbers throughout his young career speaking for themselves - at least during his time at Fiorentina, which earned a lucrative move to Juventus last January.
He made his Fiorentina debut at only 18 years old, phased into the side over two seasons; he made only the single start over 10 league appearances in the 2018/19 campaign, then starting 13 games the following term as he notched 30 appearances. The goals started to flow in abundance in the 2020/21 season, where Vlahovic became a regular for Fiorentina and improved on a tally of six goals the season prior by managing to score 21 goals in 37 league appearances (34 of which were starts).
His 2020/21 form carried into the season subsequent as he scored 17 times in 21 starts for Fiorentina. Then came the move to Juventus midway through the campaign, which has seen his output dwindle somewhat. Only seven further league goals were managed in 15 matches for Juventus, and six goals in 10 league starts this term is underwhelming. A goal for Serbia against Switzerland at the World Cup is something to add to his CV, though.
Back to his club form, and only one Champions League goal this season matches Vlahovic's single goal scored in the competition last term - one-minute into his debut in Europe's elite tournament. That promise hasn't been lived up to, but the reality is that Vlahovic is being held back by Juventus' own struggles amid their fall from Europe's top sides.
Vlahovic is a traditional striker, solely a No.9 with the intention of scoring goals, particularly where he is especially lively inside the penalty area. He relies on service, and that has wavered in a Juventus side lacking quality (in that context, his goal return isn't horrendous). He is exceedingly good with players that can supply him with chances, outperforming his expected goals courtesy of exceptional finishing ability.
So, a downside is, as evidenced by his time at Juventus, he does need relatively consistent supply to function at his best level despite being among the very best at what he does. But the very best strikers can only be relied upon to do so much by themselves anyway - if you are left isolated it is a pretty hopeless task.
Vlahovic can be rendered as being a well-rounded centre-forward but more one-dimensional as a general attacker given his nature as a more traditional striker. Much like Erling Haaland - tall, strong and powerful - his strengths lie in aspects aside from elements such as high volumes of link play or creating chances for others (his season-high assist total is only three). While dynamic for a player of his stature, he isn't much of a dribbler, acting as more of a focal point who receives the ball high up the pitch or makes very intelligent runs in behind.
He might not be the most tailor-made fit for Erik ten Hag, particularly when you look at aspects such as a lack of off-ball work. But Vlahovic should get the volume of chances in Ten Hag's attack-minded system to prove his worth as possibly the best goal-scorer on this list. He isn't incapable of performing weaker areas of his game either, for instance dropping into deeper areas.
You would have to play to his strengths, but United have often played in a suitable manner and have lacked the focal point Vlahovic would provide. In the final third, Vlahovic can be absolutely deadly when you combine his movement, positional nous and finishing ability.
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Jonathan David
Age: 22
Club: LOSC Lille
Nationality: Canadian
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Jonathan David is an intriguing option. He is currently in his third season in Ligue 1 with Lille after earning a move from Belgian side Gent aged 20 in 2020 following hauls of 12 and 18 goals in two senior league campaigns. He played 37 times in the league as Lille won the title in his first season with the club, starting on 29 occasions and amassing 13 goals.
Since, David's output has increased further. Despite Lille struggling and finishing 10th in an underwhelming title defence, David, scored 15 times in the league having become an even more integral part of the side, featuring in every match and only not starting on six occasions. He also managed three goals in the Champions League, with this form continuing into this season with nine goals in 15 matches.
David was also a talismanic figure for Canada as they qualified for the World Cup, scoring nine times and finding himself second in the CONCACAF qualifying scoring charts. He didn't deliver his best in Qatar and was an anonymity in the scheme of the World Cup, but it was a valuable venture into the unknown for David and Canada.
Whether David would be a suitable fit for United remains to be seen. He has proven versatile in terms of starting in different central berths - predominantly a centre-forward or second striker, with appearances as a No.10 for Gent. Stylistically, even when deployed as a lone striker as with Lille at present, David is more of a second striker by nature.
David isn't an out-and-out No.9 if that is what Erik ten Hag wants. Instead, he operates better in more of a free role where he is able to drift into wide areas. He is similar to a player like Marcus Rashford or Anthony Martial in terms of profile, which could be beneficial if United are to look at signing him due to the element of flexibility that would be added to the attack.
In any case, David still has traits of a traditional No.9, for example through the threat offered in the penalty area, where is expertise in terms of movement comes to the fore in order to create space for himself or others. David not being a 'target man' as such isn't a bad thing anyway. He is technically good and suited to playing with his back to goal - this makes him a reliable link player and effective in producing passages of intricacy.
Additionally, he is an explosive player, which can be valuable in possession and when making runs. Out of possession, his defensive work is notable, winning the ball high up the pitch more than the majority of forwards.
On a negative note, David sometimes lacks involvement compared to other strikers, even if he has a knack for dropping into deeper areas. He is a willing recipient of progressive passes, but there remains scope for his impact to be much greater than it is. Albeit his level of involvement has shown signs of being on the rise.
His assist tallies have diminished since notching 13 across two league seasons in Belgium, albeit he has registered three in Ligue 1 so far this term after managing two and then enduring a blank in his first two seasons in France. As a creator, there is room for improvement.
A major concern is the fact that he isn't quite prolific enough in terms of goals compared to his expected goals total, which shows he is getting into good scoring areas but lacks a clinical edge at times. Additionally, he shoots at a lower volume than about half of other forwards in Europe's major leagues.
David could be a suitable option for United, and he would bolster their attack. But there do remain aspects of his game that need refining, and his profile is possibly too similar to present options to offer any significant extra dimension to Ten Hag's attack.
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Victor Osimhen
Age: 23
Club: Napoli
Nationality: Nigerian
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Victor Osimhen is one of the most attractive, yet also one of the most contentious names on this list. Essentially, he is a really high caliber striker, but he is stylistically somewhat unsuited to the way Erik ten Hag likes his sides to play. Of course, none of this is to suggest Osimhen wouldn't massively improve United's attack - he provides a very reliable goals output and has done so in two of Europe's major leagues.
Admittedly, after moving from Nigeria in January 2017 as an 18-year-old, Osimhen failed to make much of a mark at Wolfsburg, only appearing 15 times and failing to score across two seasons. More successful was a loan switch to Charleroi in Belgium, where Osimhen scored 12 goals in 25 first division matches to earn a move to Lille.
He spent one season in France, scoring 13 league goals in 27 matches and also managing to find the net twice in the Champions League. Performances for Lille earned Osimhen a €70million move to Napoli in advance of the 2020/21 campaign, with the Nigerian international now in his third season in Italy; he scored 10 times in 24 league matches (albeit only 16 starts) in his first season, and notched 14 in 27 last term.
This season has been a good representation of Osimhen. He has scored nine times in 11 league matches for the side head of the table, also scoring in the Champions League against Liverpool. But only playing 11 of Napoli's 15 league matches represents his frequent unavailability to due injury - something that has been apparent in all bar one season in his career to date. United need a reliable striker in terms of availability given Anthony Martial's injury woes.
Still, when available, Osimhen more or less guarantees goals. High expected goals values represent his ability to use clever movement and run-making to get into scoring areas, while overperformance of this total suggests his ability to execute chances. A high volume of shots is valuable to test goalkeepers and possibly force secondary chances.
He is a nuisance of a player, whether it be through his explosive nature, ability in the air, or liveliness inside the penalty area. At the same time, his defensive work from the front doesn't allow defenders much time to think when in possession.
Osimhen is, however, possibly a player that has to be in the right system to excel. His passing numbers are by no means great and, additionally, his relative lack of touches represent the fact that he is not the keenest or most reliable link player, which Ten Hag will not look kindly on due to his desire for his forwards to be involved in build-up. Osimhen can provide assists but is not a prominent creator.
At the same time, he isn't the most dynamic or skillful attacker, with an absence of high volumes of dribbles and successful carries of the ball.
While Osimhen is accustomed to playing as a lone striker with wide players to support, his one-dimensional nature and occasional single-mindedness is a concern despite the obvious goal threat that he carries. Given a substantial fee has been mooted, these weaknesses are amplified.
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Mohammed Kudus
Age: 22
Club: Ajax
Nationality: Ghanaian
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Mohammed Kudus is more of an outside option for United to contemplate. He is more of an attacking midfielder by trade, but his versatility is such that he has frequently operated in central midfield, wide areas and as a centre-forward, executing different roles in different formations. He has started to establish himself in more of a false nine role for Ajax this term, hence he should be considered.
It is a concern that Kudus is still a relatively unproven entity, only just beginning to become a regular for Ajax in his third season with the club after having joined from Danish Superliga side Nordsjaelland. Long-term injuries to his meniscus, ankle and ribs meant fragmented involvement in two seasons under Erik ten Hag, though this is hopefully more an indication of misfortune as opposed to an injury prone player.
Having kept a clean bill of health this term, Kudus still hasn't been a complete regular domestically, appearing 14 times but starting only five times - though he has amassed five goals in this period. More pertinently, he has been a regular feature in the Champions League this term, scoring four times and providing three assists as a centre-forward after featuring in every group stage match, starting five.
Also on the big stage, Kudus was a talismanic figure for Ghana at the Qatar World Cup, scoring a brace in their 3-2 win over South Korea.
Against the amount of minutes he has played, Kudus' output as been very good. Underperformance of his expected goals is a concern, but more frequent playing time could allow this to even out. Anyway, his xG tallies are in the top bracket amid other forwards in Europe, exemplifying his ability to get into scoring positions. And, while his accuracy could be improved, his total amount of shots presents a player confident in the final third.
Technically, Kudus is excellent. He ranks among the very best in the continent for most passing metrics - an accurate, progressive passer over a range of distances. This comes in hand with his creative ability, where his expected assists tally exceeding his assists tally suggesting he is sometimes let down by team-mates having supplied them with chances.
Whether through passing or dribbling, Kudus displays a forward-thinking nature through always looking to get into the final third or opposing penalty area. On the dribbling side of things, he is an intricate played who often beats players with avail.
Again, overall it comes down to what exactly Ten Hag wants from his striker. Kudus is a great option if a false nine who is positionally flexible is viewed desirable. He is a player keen to be involved and able to link play effectively, while adding to a creative value with an improving goal output and an abundance of high intensity work off the ball.
There are possible parallels with Donny van de Beek, though Kudus is less proven with Ajax thus an even higher risk. However, he wouldn't be the most expensive option on this list by any means, and Ten Hag is familiar with him. A lack of experience is a concern, but the quality is certainly there, and Ten Hag would have a certain degree of freedom to further mould Kudus' game.
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Memphis Depay
Age: 28
Club: Barcelona
Nationality: Dutch
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Memphis Depay is not a player that needs much introducing.
To put it bluntly, he had a failed 18-month stint at United, which ended in January 2017. He scored seven goals across his spell with the club, though only one came in the league and two came in Champions League qualifying. Compared to his 22 goals and five assists for PSV Eindhoven as they won the Eredivisie the season prior, this was mightily disappointing.
He left after only making four league appearances at the start of the 2016/17 campaign, moving to France and joining Lyon. To Depay's credit, he enjoyed a renaissance in Ligue 1, scoring 63 times and notching 43 assists in 139 league matches (115 of which were starts) across five seasons. Six goals in the 2019/20 Champions League is a particular highlight.
Depay was naive amid his inexperience when joining United, and he has since admitted that his attitude was poor and that he often looked to shift the blame to others rather than taking responsibility himself.
Having shown his ability at Lyon, Depay earned a move to Barcelona ahead of last season. Scoring 12 times and assisting twice wasn't a horrendous output, but Depay would have hoped to start more than 20 games and will rue the fact he didn't feature in 10 La Liga matches. Injuries have been an issue, and this has been shown this term with only two league matches played - with one goal scored - in advance of the World Cup.
Still, there is promise that a fully fit Depay could be an option for United. Despite being 28 years old, he wouldn't necessarily be a stop-gap option either, even if a shorter term solution than some others.
He remains a reliable goal-scorer when he features, amassing a high expected goals total and outperforming this, emphasising his finishing ability and knack for getting into shooting areas. Earlier in his career, he was more of a left-winger, but has has recently reinvented himself as a well-rounded centre-forward.
Depay can be an effective link player, something enabled by his desire for high involvement and accurate passing over short ranges. While allowing the unlocking of others via link-up play, Depay is also adept at providing himself as an option in and around the penalty area, allowing himself to be an option for the reception of passes from others.
The all-round nature of Depay's game, especially when you factor in his ball-carrying ability in addition to his off-ball intelligence, makes him difficult for defences to quell. Erik ten Hag will certainly take to the fact that Depay can both be an efficient link player and a penalty box threat, also an attacker that can contribute to a fluid front line.
One of the best things about Depay is that his Barcelona contract is up in the summer, and their financial issues mean they could even allow him to leave for free this window through a contract termination in order to remove him from the wage bill. Depay would certainly motivated given the love that remains for United and the associated sense of unfinished business.
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Lautaro Martinez
Age: 25
Club: Inter Milan
Nationality: Argentinian
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Lautaro Martinez is a great option. Lautaro Martinez is also not a great option. With him, it really depends on the day. He can be a genuinely outstanding striker, but his inconsistent nature means he also has a knack for delivering frustrating performances too.
Right off the cuff, it is important to say his streaky nature is a big turn-off. The World Cup final is fresh in the memory, and Martinez was culpable for the squandering of two huge chances - once taking a touch where it wasn't necessary and skewing a free header in the last minute of extra time. He was almost a villain in Argentina as a result of his frequent struggles when the pressure is on.
Despite closing out the World Cup having been dropped from Lionel Scaloni's side and with zero goals or assists after countless missed chances across six matches, Martinez did prove parts of his expertise, even in the final. After all, he did enter the World Cup having scored 21 times in 40 games for his country.
He featured significantly in Lionel Messi's extra time goal, showing his strength in terms of link play by taking an excellent first touch before bursting into the penalty area. Here, he showed the dynamic movement that is a key feature of his game and makes him so lively inside the penalty area. His ultimate shot was saved by Hugo Lloris and outlined slightly flawed decison making, but the value of Martinez being a player who shoots in abundance was shown as the ball fell to Messi to score - lots of his shots do lead to secondary chances.
In many ways, Martinez's World Cup performances are deceptive even while being an embodiment of his variable form. He is a player that provides a reliable goal output which has continually increased since joining Inter Milan from Racing Club in the summer of 2018. At the same time, he has shown he can be a creator too, with some respectable assist tallies.
His first season in Italy was underwhelming with only six goals and two assists in the league. However, after only appearing 27 times with 13 starts in his maiden league campaign, his involvement has since grown, with 30-plus league appearances in the last three seasons.
His second season with Inter saw a rise to 14 goals and three assists in the league, with five Champions League goals despite a group stage exit starting a run of scoring in the competition in four successive seasons. He then featured in all 38 league games as Inter won the Scudetto in 2020/21, excelling in a pair with Lukaku en-route to scoring 17 times and assisting six goals. Despite playing less, he became Inter's main man after Lukaku's departure last term, scoring a career-high 21 league goals while notching three assists.
His form hasn't been great this season in an Inter side struggling more so, only scoring seven times in 15 league matches. But, on a positive side of things, Martinez's value could have been reduced by his recent struggles if he is to be sold by Inter. However, this remains unlikely as he is still a key part of their furniture.
He could be a suitable option for Erik ten Hag - an aggressive player offering intensity off the ball, and a centre-forward that could contribute to a fluid attack due to his familiarity of playing a more flexible role in a forward pair (which could be a drawback if he was to move to a regular lone striker role).
While all-round in his game, his inconsistency would be a real concern for a side striving for continuity.
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Rafael Leao
Age: 23
Club: AC Milan
Nationality: Portuguese
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Rafael Leao is a slightly different option in that he hasn't featured as a centre-forward in two seasons, establishing himself as a left-winger for AC Milan. However, links to the Portuguese international mean he should at least be evaluated as an option. And, even if he doesn't fit the bill positionally, he is an excellent player and could still be a fantastic long-term investment.
Saying this, Leao isn't shy to the centre-forward role. He started his career centrally, featuring there in his four senior appearances for Sporting Club and then for Lille after making the switch to France ahead of the 2018/19 season. Leao only spent one season at Lille before moving to Milan, scoring eight times and providing three assists in 24 league appearances (16 of which were starts).
He didn't become a regular feature in Milan until their 2021/22 Scudetto-winning campaign, when he made the permanent switch to a left-winger and saw his output almost double to 11 goals and 10 assists in the league after making 34 appearances. His performances were such that he was deemed the Serie A MVP, proving the extent to which he has started to excel in a very competitive league.
And Leao is clearly here to stay at the top of the game. He already has six goals and four assists to his name after only 14 league appearances this term, while he scored twice (in style) for Portugal off the bench at the Qatar World Cup.
Leao is a prominent creator as well as a clinical finisher, outperforming his expected goals while balancing his scoring output with plenty of assists. His strengths lie as a ball carrier, where he can use his skillfulness and directness to trouble defenders.
Immediately, it comes to the attention that Leao's strengths would be wasted if he was moved to a central berth where space is more limited. The reality is that he thrives in space, with his link-up play something that would need improvement given inaccuracies by way of passing. His overall involvement in terms of touches would have to increase too.
Still, there are some aspects that show Leao could operate as a centre-forward. He is strong aerially, with his six-foot-two physique combined with general pace and power an enticing prospect. He is already a presence in the penalty area too, finding shooting areas more than most wingers, which is credit to his movement. Scarily, his output could still improve further too.
Ultimately, Leao has been included here more to address the links rather than omit him from the piece. Signing him would be unnecessary even considering his talent, thus any consideration of signing him is likely separate from the striker search. Acquiring Leao to play centrally would be limiting of his strrengths.
Erik ten Hag has a number of left-sided options already and clearly loves his preset first-choice Marcus Rashford given discussions over a new contract; either Leao or Rashford would have to be shifted to a less natural position to fit into the same side, and the prospect of interchanges between the pair is more complicated than it is worth.
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So, who is the best option for United?
Ultimately, football is not primarily about just goals and assists - they can often be a tough means for comparing players due to disparities between the quality of leagues. When it comes to signing players, there is much more to consider, whether this be the player's attributes, potential given their age, or the transfer fee.
The most favourable options are those in the younger age bracket due to the prospect of longevity and the avoidance of having to commence another search any time soon, however inexperience is a drawback in some cases due to the requirement for the striker void to be filled promptly.
In the case of United's present search, most options that I have earmarked are youthful. Given his experience in a major league, in the Champions League and at the World Cup, then factoring in the technical completeness of his game and the fact that he is still only 23 years old, Joao Felix is probably the most desirable option for United.
The transfer fee comparative to quality is a big thing to consider, but Felix has abundant talent and a fee around £100million should still be considered. Anyway, in his case there is the factor of pushing for an exit, which could force the acceptance of a lower fee. An initial loan move is also an option, which could be too good to turn down in January so that no money comes out of the summer budget. Business could be difficult in January due to the ownership situation at United, hereby any cheaper option is favourable. This could be ideal.
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If Felix moves elsewhere, don't turn your back on Mohammed Kudus in terms of a similar profile of player, especially given he is one of the cheaper options on this list. Looking further at lower cost options, Memphis Depay could be a very good fallback option if all else fails.
Overall, Goncalo Ramos seems the second most viable option due to the complete nature of his game, and he could be the best option if Erik ten Hag desires a player that can operate as an out-and-out No.9. Price could be an issue, while Benfica will be reluctant to sanction a departure for such a key player.
In terms of attainability and if you want guaranteed goals, then Dusan Vlahovic could arise as a viable option too - the most traditional striker on the list even if not the most well-rounded option. Elsewhere, Jonathan David and Victor Osimhen don't feel like the best fits, while Lautaro Martinez's unreliability is a big turn-off.
Really, it depends what Erik ten Hag wants, and it depends on the funds made available too. On the other side of this, it could be beneficial to hold fire until the summer, when clubs are more willing to let go of prized assets and bigger spends are easier with more options at your disposal. Albeit the priority should be to make an addition in January given the money released by no longer having to pay Cristiano Ronaldo's wages.
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