Manchester United failed to lodge a bid for Cody Gakpo after making Erik ten Hag aware that they couldn't compete financially due to their summer spree.
The Red Devils have missed out in the race to sign the Dutch star, who excelled at the World Cup, scoring on three occasions. Liverpool are poised to capture the forward who has continued to be prolific since bursting onto the scene with PSV. The total package is set to cost the Anfield outfit almost £50m.
Gakpo had been linked with a switch to Manchester since the summer and Ten Hag was expected to move for him after losing Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese star's sudden mid-season exit has left United light in attack and the Dutch coach wants reinforcements.
ESPN claim that Ten Hag is frustrated that he's missed out on Gakpo with the United board instead having to target short-term solutions. Their lack of financial power stems from a summer window that saw them spend more than they anticipated.
The Red Devils shelled out £229m on the likes of Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Antony - but that has come back to bite them in January. Their inability to compete for Gakpo means they are now eyeing potential loan deals in an effort to plug the gaps in their forward line.
Joao Felix is available to leave Atletico Madrid, three-and-a-half years after he cost the Spanish side more than £100m. They would be willing to sanction a loan deal for the Portugal international, but are seeking a fee and for his wages to be covered, which would take any deal for six-months to €22m (£19.4m).
Alvaro Morata, also plying his trade at the Wanda Metropolitano, is another target, but only if Atletico are willing to listen to offers. United have been anything but prolific in front of goals this term with Marcus Rashford their leading scorer on five goals.
Ten Hag has confessed, despite their 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, that they are on the hunt for a Ronaldo replacement. He said: "Yes, we are aware we lost a striker, so I think we have to get a striker in, but it has to be the right one. The right one is a player that brings quality to the team, not just adding to the squad because that only gives you problems. And, you know the criteria is high here at Manchester United."
He was also quizzed on their failure to sign Gakpo but told Amazon Prime Video : "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 playing in and you need numbers in the squad."
