Manchester United are "looking for a striker" with a matter of days remaining before the January transfer window opens, Erik ten Hag has confirmed.
The Red Devils are keen to address their shortage of attacking options after terminating Cristiano Ronaldo's contract by mutual consent in November. Despite Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial setting United on course for a dominant 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night, a lack of depth was clear to see when glancing at the hosts' bench at Old Trafford.
United are still competing in four competitions as a hectic 2023 schedule approaches, leaving Ten Hag in no doubt that a new addition will be required in the winter window. The Dutch manager was speaking after his side were beaten to the signature of Cody Gakpo, who is leaving PSV Eindhoven to join arch-rivals Liverpool in a £45million transfer.
"We are always in the market," Ten Hag said on Amazon Prime Video after the victory over Forest. "We do what we can. I don't talk about individual cases. We are looking for a striker, it would be good with so many games coming. We want to stay in all the leagues we are in. So you need numbers."
Despite declaring United chiefs are scouring the market for a new centre-forward, Ten Hag was impressed with what he saw from his attackers in midweek. "It was not only Rashford but I'm really happy with his performance once again," the former Ajax boss told BBC Match of the Day. "He is in a really good pattern and if he keeps with this pattern and spirit, it is good for us and good for him."
Ten Hag added: "We want players in but that front four has not played much together in the first part of the season. If we can bring them together more often on the pitch, I'm sure they will progress and get routines together and score more goals."
Rashford, who impressed for England at the World Cup in Qatar, opened the scoring in the 19th minute after a well-worked corner routine. Forest manager Steve Cooper was "frustrated" by the way his side conceded at Old Trafford, with Fred adding United's third in the closing stages.
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"It was always going to be really tough here tonight and we knew the game was going to look as it did in terms of them having territory and possession," he told Amazon Prime Video. "The goals are a killer in terms of a set piece where some players have clearly not stuck to their responsibilities.
"And then we're in a half-decent position in United's box, but then to give up the space and the territory we did, I wouldn't say we gifted the goal because they have to work for it, but it's frustrating with the goals."
