Odion Ighalo, Edinson Cavani, Cristiano Ronaldo and now ... Wout Weghorst.
Given all the many, many millions Manchester United have ploughed into the transfer market like a hapless gambler snared by the sunken cost fallacy, the most glamorous of positions has seen strangely fallow investment in comparison. Of the approximately £685million the club has spent since 2018 on new players, only a paltry £20m or so has gone on strikers.
Not since 2017 have United invested heavily in, theoretically at least, future-proofing their strike force when £75m was spent on Romeu Lukaku. It didn't go to plan and two years later the Belgian left Old Trafford but the fact United haven't moved to sign a proper replacement since seems bizarre given their lavish spending elsewhere.
READ MORE: Weghorst confident of completing United loan transfer
Big money is usually reserved for strikers - or your exciting wingers and playmakers, which United have certainly splashed the cash on - as they tend to be the signings that get fans giddy and crucially grab the important goals. Instead, United have spent nearly 10 times more on centre-backs in recent years.
That investment is finally starting to bear fruit thanks to the great work of Erik ten Hag, who is transforming the team from the unorganised rabble he inherited to a disciplined and tactically astute unit. United have won all five games since the resumption of club football and the only goal conceded was due to a freak error by David de Gea.
United are now much more resolute but the comparative lack of investment upfront has seen a struggle for goals. Other than the revived Marcus Rashford - who has well over double the goals of United's next-highest scorer - there is a severe lack of firepower throughout the side.
It's hardly surprising given the paltry arsenal at Ten Hag's disposal. The manager had limited options even before Cristiano Ronaldo departed with the cringing embarrassment of someone failing to emphatically slam shut a door on their way out. Now Rashford - who is better on the flanks - and Anthony Martial are the only central options available.
It really shouldn't be the case and shows just how incompetent the squad building has been for the last five years. Most annoyingly, Ten Hag is now being forced into making the exact same move: yet another stopgap signing.
MEN Sport understands Weghorst is confident of completing a loan move to Old Trafford this month as negotiations continue to terminate his loan at Turkish club Besiktas from Burnley. The big Dutchman is seen as a short-term support option for Martial, who has again struggled with injury, with Ten Hag being impressed by his record of eight goals in 16 games this season.
Although on paper the signing of a towering 30-year-old who only managed two goals during his brief stint in the Premier League doesn't look appealing, it's not as bad as it may appear. Weghorst showed at the World Cup as he rattled Argentina, his physical presence at 6ft 6in can cause a great deal of panic and bother in defences.
He isn't just a lumbering lummox either. United experienced that first-hand at Turf Moor as he sent Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay crashing into each other with a quick turn and then played a defence-splitting pass to send Jay Rodriguez through to score. His two finishes against the World Cup winners were also excellent and United could certainly do with that sort of natural frontman.
Despite his reputation for lovely passing football, Ten Hag is not a stubborn idealist and has no qualms about playing with a big man up top, either. Sebastien Haller revived his career under him at Ajax and there was always the 'break glass if in need to go route one' option with veteran Klass Jan Huntelaar on the bench.
The signing of Weghorst in isolation is by no means a terrible one but the fact United are having to make it is. United have relied on ageing strikers to fill a gaping hole in their squad for too long. They can get away with it one last time this month due to Ronaldo's unexpected exit and the needed outlay in other positions last year but the circus must end in the summer with a long-overdue sound investment in a quality striker.
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