Sign a striker, bolster defence and sell deadwood – what Manchester United need to do in January transfer window

The January transfer window is looming large.

And after a disappointing start to the season, and with a change of the ownership structure afoot, Manchester United could be tempted to do some wheeling and dealing.

But what should their priorities be?

It is pretty evident that United need to improve their misfiring attack.

The £72million Rasmus Hojlund has served up five Champions League goals, but is still to get off the mark in the Premier League while Marcus Rashford has endured a dramatic downturn in form from last season.

In fact, not a single United striker has scored a league goal at Old Trafford this season – a damning statistic that underlines why Erik ten Hag’s team find it so hard to win games.

In the past United have utilised the loan market in January to varying degrees of success (for every Henrik Larsson there is a Wout Weghorst).

But if they are to stand any realistic chances of finishing in the top four they may have to open the chequebook.

The obvious name on the lips of a lot of United fans is Napoli goal-machine Victor Osimhen, but it is highly unlikely the Italian champions will sell their star frontman mid-season.

Likewise, Brentford have placed a minimum price tag of £80m on Ivan Toney to ensure they keep him at least until the summer, while Evan Ferguson, a player admired by the United hierarchy, has only just signed a new deal at Brighton.

United are among a cluster of Premier League clubs tracking Copenhagen wonderkid Roony Bardghji, but it is a risk asking a 17-year-old rookie to come in and ease the goalscoring burden.

There is no hiding the fact United have been badly hit by injuries, particularly in defence and Ten Hag has rarely been able to name the same back four for successive matches.

In the case