Erik ten Hag has clarified any attacking addition Manchester United make in the January transfer window has to match their sporting and financial criteria.
Ten Hag confirmed at the start of December he wants to sign a forward to offset the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, with United only on a goal difference of +3 with 23 goals in 15 Premier League games.
Sources at United have indicated a loan signing is the likeliest scenario after the club decided against bidding for Cody Gakpo, who left PSV EIndhoven for Liverpool in a £37million move this week.
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"We have a squad, we have players who are matching our criteria but with all the games that are coming, it is a tough competition," Ten Hag said. "We want to be also playing in all of the competitions by winning in games and cups as well.
"So you need players, you need numbers to cover, so we need good players, not only numbers, you need quality players to cover that. You need also competition [so] that you can make technical choices, so we are looking for the right player for our squad and that has to match the sporting criteria but also the financial criteria."
United have seven senior forwards but Facundo Pellistri has still not made his debut for the club more than two years on from his arrival and Jadon Sancho has not played since October 22.
Sancho is yet to return to squad training, having undertaken individual sessions in the Netherlands last month, while Anthony Elanga last scored for United on February 22.
Alejandro Garnacho has been permanently promoted to the first-team squad and excelled off the bench in the midweek win over Nottingham Forest, a role Ten Hag highlighted.
"We need impact from the bench," he added. "I am happy once again a player was coming from the bench; Fred is scoring a goal and I think all the subs who came in tonight did really well.
"And also in the offensive department, you need players coming from the bench to have an impact on the game, whether it is you need a goal or when you are leading and you can go for the counter-attacks or keep the win on your side."
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