Since the long term injury of Marcus Rashford earlier in January, Manchester United have been rushing to find a replacement. Some links seem promising while others are seriously depressing for United fans. We will soon find out which strikers could join The Red Devils as the January transfer window will slam shut in just five days.
Which Strikers Could Join Manchester United
Carlos Tevez
One of the more surprising names on this list, Carlos Tevez has had links with Manchester United this transfer window. Tevez has a lot of experience as a 35-year-old, much of it coming in the Premier League. The last time he played in England came seven years ago, however. Since then he has played for Juventus, but after that he has been in far less prestigious leagues. Tevez may not be up for a return to the Premier League, fitness-wise.
The Argentine has some experience with the Red Devils. He played there for two seasons on loan from West Ham until the London side sold him to United rivals Manchester City. Tevez did not perform his best while on the Red side of Manchester. His second season there saw him bag just five League goals, and he had not been particularly prolific in his goal-scoring during his first. Since his success at Juventus, the former West Ham player has not played as well as he used to, possibly due to his age. With this in mind, he hardly seems a good signing for United, but given their situation, it may still happen.
Edinson Cavani
Edinson Cavani is one of the more recently successful players on United’s potential striker list. The Uruguayan has been at Paris Saint Germain for some time now, and has continued to play well consistently for his whole stint there. His time in the French capital may be coming to an end soon, though. He has been linked with a move to many other top clubs in Europe, United being one of them.
Cavani has kept his goal-scoring record very good up until this season, but he has just two league goals this campaign. This is not so bad, however, as he has had only nine appearances, many being short as he came on as a substitute. This season, injury has affected Cavani greatly, and with a groin strain his most recent trouble, the Argentine may simply provide United’s medical staff with more work.
The Premier League would be a new venture for the PSG striker should he choose to take this opportunity. He has proven himself elsewhere, but with the English top-flight different to Europe’s other leagues, he may not do as well here. He would probably turn out more successful than most on this list, however, and if United can sign him before the window is closed they may stand a good chance at qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Odion Ighalo
Having Odion Ighalo as a potential transfer shows how far Manchester United have fallen in recent years. Currently struggling to score goals in the Chinese league, Ighalo does not look like the sort of player United should be looking to sign. His only redeeming quality is one good season at Watford, which preceded a poor first half of the following season which saw him move to China that January 2017. If Ighalo did come to United it would be a true sign of the times for them, and he seems like one of the more likely transfers at the moment.
Islam Slimani
Another surprising yet more likely target is Islam Slimani. Leicester bought him for a club-record fee in 2016, yet he has failed to impress since then, with just 13 goals in 47 appearances in a Leicester shirt. Failed loan spells with Newcastle, Fenerbahce and Monaco leave much to be desired with the 31-year-old Algerian. He has not once proven himself in the Premier League, making him a confusing target. Slimani will be desperate for another opportunity to prove himself in the English top flight, though it is highly unlikely that he would succeed if United sign him.
Paco Alcacer
Paco Alcacer may be a more promising short term fix to United’s troubles. The Borussia Dortmund striker was extremely successful there last season while on loan from Barcelona, yet since then, he has failed to impress. While he has no Premier League experience, Alcacer has played in other major European leagues, and a short term loan to the Red Devils could provide a positive outcome for all parties involved.
Manchester United need a striker on a short term basis with top goal scorer Marcus Rashford out for the majority of the rest of the season. While some of the names linked with them may be cause for excitement, most of them are rather grim reading for United fans, with some players already a proven Premier League flop.
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