Man Utd identify Timo Werner, Moussa and Ousmane Dembele as transfer targets as Solskjaer demands new striker

Posted Thursday, October 03, 2019 by Thesun.co.uk

Man Utd identify Timo Werner, Moussa and Ousmane Dembele as transfer targets as Solskjaer demands new striker
Manchester United have drawn up a shortlist of attacking players to target in January

MANCHESTER UNITED have reportedly identified Timo Werner, Moussa Dembele and Ousmane Dembele as transfer targets after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer demanded a new striker in January.

The Old Trafford boss flogged misfits Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez to Inter Milan this summer but failed to bring in a replacement.

The Norwegian failed in late moves for Paulo Dybala and Christian Eriksen and has since seen his side fail to score more than one goal in a game since the opening day mauling of Chelsea.

Marcus Rashford is the club's leading marksman but he has only managed a solitary strike from open play this season, while partner Anthony Martial has had struggles with injuries.

Solskjaer has already admitted he wants to recruit attacking reinforcements in the New Year and now three of those targets have been identified.

"The Man United manager has mentioned that he would like to buy a striker in January," host Ian McGarry said on Reach PLC's Transfer Window podcast this week.

"Having lost, I say lost in inverted comas, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez because that was careless not replacing them.

"But the three names we have been told from a reliable source, in no particular order, are RB Leipzig's Timo Werner.

"Lyon's Moussa Dembele, formerly of Celtic, and Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele, who really has had a bit of a nightmare time since his transfer from Borussia Dortmund."

THREE'S A CROWD

All three of the trio have long been linked with moves to England's top flight, with Liverpool long-term admirers of German International Werner.

While Ousmane Dembele is thought to be looking to leave Barcelona after an injury-plagued time in Spain that has seen him restricted to just two appearances this season.

The 22-year-old was also thought to be unsettled by Nou Camp chiefs wanting to use him in a transfer deal to re-sign Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain.

Meanwhile, SunSport revealed that United scouts watched Moussa Dembele, 23, in action for Lyon three times in a single week last month.

The Red Devils tracked the former French U21 international since his time in PSG’s academy prior to his 2012 move to Fulham.

They continued to monitor his progress at Craven Cottage and then following his switch north of the border in 2016.

It is also thought United are considering a move for 33-year-old Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic after deciding against signing the veteran forward in the summer.

The striker’s age was a deciding factor, after the Serie A champions offered the Old Trafford club a player plus cash deal for Lukaku.

But Mandzukic is out of favour in Turin this summer, having not made a single appearance under new boss Maurizio Sarri.