Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Reveals the Type of Striker Man Utd Need Up Front
By Tom Gott
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confessed that his side need a new goalscorer who is ready to put their body on the line to score ugly goals.
The Red Devils did pick up a 1-0 win over cross-town rivals Manchester City on Wednesday, but they struggled to create many clear-cut opportunities during the match and ultimately crashed out of the Carabao Cup on aggregate.
Speaking after the game (via the Manchester Evening News), Solskjaer admitted that his side need to show more desire in the final third, rather than pass around and try and score the perfect goal.
"We need more goals. I know if we get Bruno [Fernandes] over the line we've got a boy there who'll score and create. So let's talk on Friday," Solskjaer said.
"We need more goalscorers, we need more goals; that's a definite. Need someone who wants to break their nose to score a goal or their toe, doesn't have to be the nice ones, we know that.
"I am challenging them and I need to challenge them more, because we can't just score nice goals. Even today we pegged them back at times and played them deep and they stayed outside their box and defended, but we couldn't create those chances, those moments."
Links to new strikers have been all over the place for United this month. Lyon's Moussa Dembélé and Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani have been the more high-profile names suggested, but the search hasn't stopped there.
Leicester City's Islam Slimani and Shanghai Shenhua's Odion Ighalo have also been linked with a switch to Old Trafford, with United seemingly exploring every possible option as they look to bolster their attack.
Marcus Rashford's back injury has left United short of numbers, with just Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood available for selection; so the club are open to bringing someone in on loan for the remainder of the season.
The clock is ticking, so United certainly need to start making moves soon if they are to strike a deal for a new forward before Friday's deadline.