Manchester United will have to look elsewhere for a new forward after PSV agreed to sell Cody Gakpo to Liverpool.
Liverpool came out of nowhere to sign the Dutch attacker, whom United were interested in during the summer and remain admirers of. The 23-year-old enjoyed a stellar World Cup with the Netherlands, while also registering 13 goals and 17 assists for his club so far this season.
Gakpo had been a target for United for some time and was close to a move to the club in the summer transfer window. However, Erik ten Hag prioritised a move for Antony instead.
ALSO READ: PSV confirm agreement with Liverpool for Gakpo
Ten Hag has spoken openly about wanting to sign a striker in the upcoming transfer window, and with Cristiano Ronaldo having recently left the club, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial are the only senior strikers at Old Trafford.
While Gakpo is capable of playing as a striker, his preferred position is on the left wing. MEN Sport has taken a look at five more suitable players who could be of interest to United:
Moussa Dembele
United have been tentatively linked with Dembele for several years, which is unsurprising given the Frenchman's impressive goal return in his career. At 26 years old, the frontman still has plenty of years ahead of him.
It remains to be seen if Lyon are planning to extend his contract, but they are unlikely to demand a hefty transfer fee for the attacker as he is allowed to leave for nothing at the end of the season. The French side are also reportedly open to selling the striker in January.
Having scored 69 goals in 156 appearances for the Ligue 1 side, Dembele could prove to be a smart - and cheap - addition for the second half of the season.
Marcus Thuram
While Marcus Thuram is not a name many people are linking with United, he, like Dembele, is out of contract at the end of the campaign. Having registered 13 goals and four assists in 17 appearances for Borussia Monchengladbach this term, he is certainly an in-form striker.
Gladbach sporting director Roland Virkus previously insisted that the German outfit are desperate to keep the 25-year-old beyond the end of the season, but the Frenchman has remained tight-lipped on his plans for the future.
Newcastle United have been touted as a potential destination for Thuram, with Allan Saint-Maximin even urging the Magpies to sign the player.
Joao Felix
Joao Felix has struggled to adapt to Diego Simeone's brand of football since signing for Atletico Madrid from Benfica in 2019, with the 23-year-old enduring a difficult campaign so far this season. He has fallen down the pecking order and the Spanish side are open to selling the player, who they signed for more than £100million.
The Portugal international was impressive at the World Cup – scoring once and assisting twice – but will still be allowed to leave in the January window. United have been heavily linked with the attacker, who has scored just 33 goals in 129 appearances for Atletico.
While Felix has made just nine starts in all competitions this season, he has managed three goals and three assists in five La Liga starts – averaging a key goal contribution every 85 minutes in the league. Much like Gakpo, he is capable of chipping in with goals and assists.
Goncalo Ramos
The Benfica frontman was picked ahead of Ronaldo in Portugal's last-16 thrashing of Switzerland - going on to score a hat-trick on his first start for his country. Goncalo Ramos was also in fine form for his club prior to the break in the campaign, having registered 15 goals in 22 games.
The Reds are thought to be keen on the attacker, but the Portuguese outfit are reluctant to part ways with the player unless his €120 million buy-out clause is triggered. With that in mind, a move for the striker appears more likely to happen in the summer, rather than in January.
Ramos, 21, only broke into the Benfica side last season, and while he is beginning to make a name for himself on the big stage, he is still a raw talent. United could opt for a more experienced player in the upcoming window.
Memphis Depay
It would be fair to say that Memphis Depay's first spell at Old Trafford didn't quite go to plan, with the Dutchman scoring just seven goals in 53 appearances. However, he is still only 28 years of age and certainly has plenty to offer - and prove.
The attacker, who signed for Barcelona from Lyon in 2021, has scored 14 goals in 41 appearances for the Catalan outfit, but has fallen out of favour under Xavi and has barely featured this term.
Given that the Netherlands international is out of contract at the end of the season - and the fact that Barcelona are keen to get rid of some of their fringe players - United would be able to sign Depay for a cheap fee.
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