Erik ten Hag has admitted Manchester United are prowling the market for a new striker in a bid to replace the recently departed Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Red Devils bid farewell to their former forward last month after Ronaldo took part in a bombshell, tell-all interview with Piers Morgan, during which he opted to take aim at everyone from Ten Hag himself to the Glazer family. His position at the club was left untenable and the pair have since parted ways.
In turn, United now have a vacancy in their front-line and while Ten Hag has conceded the club are mulling over options, he stopped short of saying a new arrival was guaranteed.
Pressed for comment on whether a new striker was on the transfer wish-list, the Dutchman told reporters: "Yes, but only when we find the right player. We will do everything in our power. We are doing research at every opportunity and we will do everything we can [to sign them] if that opportunity is there."
The main name currently being touted with an Old Trafford switch is Cody Gakpo, the PSV Eindhoven and Netherlands national team star. The 23-year-old enjoyed a stellar World Cup campaign with the Oranje and is likely to have bumped up his price-tag as a result.
United's interest in Gakpo stems from before the World Cup however, with Ten Hag trying to sign the forward last summer but instead opted to pursue £86million-man Antony from Ajax.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Who should United try to sign as Ronaldo's replacement? Comment below
Gakpo seems keen on the move and even rejected the chance to join Leeds on deadline day last summer as he is still holding out for United to come calling.
That day looks likely to come sooner rather than later, but Ten Hag was reluctant to admit United's interest in Gakpo when faced with questions about the PSV talisman.
"I cannot give comment on specific players, I will never do," the Red Devils boss explained. "I’ve told you before, in the summer as well, when you talked about a lot of players. Each player is under contract and I respect that but we make sure we are working in the background to get the right players in."
A forward is certainly needed at Old Trafford as soon as possible, with United currently sitting on the second-worst goals scored record of all the sides in the top 10.
Ronaldo's future looks clearer with a move to Saudi outfit Al Nassr on the cards, but the five-time Ballon d'Or winner will be reeling from Portugal's elimination from the World Cup after they were beaten 1-0 by underdogs Morocco at the quarter-final stage.
The former Red Devils number seven was filmed leaving the pitch and walking down the tunnel in floods of tears.
