Three cut-price strikers Erik ten hag could target for Manchester United in January

Manchester United might have felt well stacked in the attacking department following the 2-1 over Liverpool last month.

Anthony Martial had just returned from injury to provide the assist for Marcus Rashford’s winner, the Englishman's first of four in three matches. All this while five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo watched on from the bench.

But injuries to both Martial and Rashford have sidelined them in recent weeks while Erik ten Hag was given a scare when Ronaldo went down bloody-nosed and disorientated following a clash during Portugal’s 4-0 win over the Czech Republic on Saturday.

READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo has just sent a wake-up call to Erik ten Hag and Manchester United

He was fine to play on, but it sent a warning to the United boss that his striking options are not wholly reliable. It’s why he may dip back into the market in January, and there are a number of cut-price deals to be had with several players out of contract next summer.

The Real Madrid attacker is unhappy at Los Blancos amid heavily reduced game time, failing to start a game this season. He has been linked with a shock move to rivals Barcelona although his head could easily be turned by another appealing offer.

United should be in the mix for the 26-year-old, who has won three Champions Leagues and scored in the 2017 final. His burst of speed and energetic style fits Ten Hag’s system like a glove and the Reds boss may not get a chance to buy a player of such quality at such an age for a low price again.

The former Old Trafford forward underwhelmed during his two-year stint at United before leaving in 2017, but has rediscovered his form since. It led to outside links that Ten Hag could make a move for the Barcelona star at the end of