When it has come to the art of scoring goals so far this season, it is fair to say that Manchester United have not been the most prolific.
After 13 Premier League fixtures, United have scored a disappointing 18 goals so far this season - the lowest tally of any side in the top six. Only Crystal Palace (15) and Chelsea (17) have scored fewer inside the top 10.
For all of the progress that United have made under Erik ten Hag so far this season, their rustiness in front of goal remains a concern. They have scored just three goals in two league matches this term, highlighting their struggles to put teams to the sword.
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Following Thursday night's Carabao Cup win over Aston Villa, which saw United score four goals in a game for the first time this season, Ten Hag referenced his side's struggles in front of goal, admitting that it could put them at a disadvantage when trying to secure a top-four finish this season. If that is the case, surely they must try and add to their attacking department in January?
United are set to prioritise the signing of a striker in their next phase of their squad rebuild and, as revealed by the Manchester Evening News , are interested in Napoli ace Victor Osimhen. However, they might not stand a chance of laying their hands on him until next summer.
With that said, United might choose to try and sign a lesser striker in January, just to try and inject some goals into the forward line for the second half of the season. Here, MEN Sport has taken a close look at four strikers who are out-of-contract next summer and who could be signed for a cut-price fee in January.
Ben Brereton Diaz - Blackburn Rovers
Brereton Diaz has been closely linked with a move to United over the last few days, such is the current speed of his development at Blackburn. His contract is up at the end of the season and he is yet to commit his future to the Ewood Park club. He has been in excellent form so far this season, scoring ten goals in 22 appearances in all competitions.
Capable of playing on the left wing and through the middle, he is highly versatile. He is also a strong runner with the ball and his record in front of goal since the start of last season speaks for itself.
His lack of Premier League experience, however, could be his downfall. But at 23 years old you could argue that his best is still to come. He is a fully-fledged Chilean international and would have been off to the World Cup had they qualified.
He might be a gamble worth exploring.
Memphis Depay - Barcelona
This would be controversial. Very controversial.
However, United have been regularly linked with Depay in recent weeks and he was a player that they considered re-signing in the summer, such is Ten Hag's obsession with signing Dutch players. He reportedly wants to leave Barcelona as soon as January, meaning he could be available for next to nothing.
While there is no denying that he flopped in his first spell at Old Trafford, scoring just seven goals in 53 games, he could be rekindled by Ten Hag, such is his ability to improve individuals via his coaching methods. His wages, however, would likely be high, meaning United could be put off by that particular element.
However, if they did rekindle some interest in his signature and moved for him in January, they would have to do so by not making a contractual error. Although he is only 28, they should not tie him down to a long-term deal. A two-and-a-half-year deal should be the maximum offer they make, considering they want to sign a big-name striker later down the line.
Moussa Dembele - Lyon
Another player that was on United's radar during the summer, Dembele is another striker whose contract is up in the summer. The club held discussions with his representatives to see if he was open to a move.
Such is his contract status at Lyon, he is likely to be on the radar of several clubs ahead of next summer. He has gone from strength-to-strength since joining the French club from Celtic in 2018.
There is no denying that he is not among the bracket of 'elite-level' strikers that United should be looking at to secure their long-term goal-getter, but he would add a different dimension to the attack and possibly be content with a backup role at a club of the Reds' stature.
Although he has only scored two goals so far this season, he netted 22 last season, meaning he knows his way to goal if given the service. With his contract ticking down, he could be a viable option if the price is right for a short-term fix.
Andrea Belotti - Roma
Belotti was a striker that some United fans suggested the club should have turned to when they were on the hunt for a striker in the summer. He was a free agent at the time, following his departure from Torino at the end of last season.
He is vastly experienced and was deemed good enough for Jose Mourinho to sign him at Roma in late August. He signed a one-year deal in the Italian capital, but there is an option to extend his stay by two further years if specific performance-related criteria are met.
But with his current deal up in the summer, United could move for him in January, should they consider him as another short-term fix. At 28, he still has several years left in him before hanging up his boots, but he is not at the age of a player that could become the face of the Reds' forward line for the next decade or so.
Like Depay, it would only be right to sign him on a relatively short contract, depending on the transfer fee. He could be an outside option to consider.
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