If Manchester United are to reinforce their attack in January, the suitable profile would be a short-term option in decent goalscoring form in a major European league and with Premier League experience. They would not have to look far.
Glance at the top scorers in Serie A and, below leading marksman Victor Osimhen, there is none other than Marko Arnautovic. A revolt among United supporters in August kiboshed their approach for the Bologna forward, the backlash so fierce thousands threatened to cancel their season ticket.
One season-ticket holder of 30 years emailed the United chief executive Richard Arnold directly. United supporters have always been one of the most principled and they abhorred the club's interest in Arnautovic on sporting and integrity grounds.
Also read: Omishen of interest to United as they draft up transfer lists
Bidding for Arnautovic on the opening weekend of a summer there was supposed to be a rebuild was the biggest insult of the Glazer era. Fan power prevailed.
United's attacking addition was Brazilian Antony for £85.51million. United overpaid but he was a priority target and his absence from the last three squads has been felt as United have only scored three times and the forward line is lopsided.
Anthony Elanga, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford have been the square pegs jammed into round holes on the right. Ten Hag was asked if Rashford was "suited" to the right-hand side after the defeat at Aston Villa and began his answer with the word "no".
United have scored a meagre 13 goals in 18 Premier League games - fewer than Brighton, Fulham, Brentford, Leeds and Leicester - a United player has failed to score in four of those fixtures, and they have scored one or none in eight. Antony and Rashford are the only two to have struck at least three league goals.
With the most abhorrent World Cup in history about to bring the domestic calendar to an abrupt halt, the end-of-year reports may as well be submitted after Sunday's meeting at Fulham. Two league games against Nottingham Forest and Wolves after Boxing Day and on New Year's Eve are not going to change the picture.
The galling reality for United is, in spite of their £225.4m summer investment in the squad, they do not have a single reliable goalscorer. Ronaldo ceased being that the moment he did not report for pre-season training at Carrington in July.
United cannot carry Ronaldo beyond the World Cup. Even if Ronaldo enjoys a renaissance in Qatar, judging tournament performances is an easy trap to fall into and he has not improved United since his reintegration into the squad a fortnight ago.
Anthony Martial has not had a consistent goalscoring run since June and July 2020 and that was with turnstiles locked. 2019-20 was Martial's standout season and the only one when he broke the 20-goal barrier.
The debate over Rashford's best role ended five years ago. He has had to play through the middle in Martial's absence and the ends have often justified the means, only it is not a coincidence Rashford has not scored from the No.9 role once this season.
There is not an obvious internal solution other than for United to hope Ronaldo rediscovers a pair of goalscoring boots. Ronaldo's prominence of late and his dubious appointment as captain 18 days after disrespectfully defying his manager suggests a once uneasy alliance is becoming easier.
The caveat with Ronaldo is United play better without him. Ten Hag has been deprived of a first-choice attack all season through Martial's brittleness and a triumvirate of Rashford, Martial and Antony has to be the preference - if the Brazilian is fit - at Fulham on Sunday and beyond.
Still, United remain an injury or suspension away from their attack collapsing and the depth is dubious. Anthony Elanga is without a club goal since February and when Jadon Sancho does return from illness it will be to warm the bench.
When United were without Sancho, Martial and Antony against West Ham 10 days ago, it completely compromised their fluidity. Take their equivalents out of the Manchester City side - Jack Grealish, Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez - and City would barely be disrupted.
That is unsustainable for a club aiming to return to the top four and United remain outside the Champions League qualifying places, so they have to explore a short-term solution.
Without stooping as low as a journeyman who recently played in the Chinese Super League.
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