Manchester United are still exploring the possibility of a deadline day loan for a striker.
United confirmed the £ 728. 5million arrival of Bruno Fernandes on Thursday and remain on the lookout for a striker to offset the loss of Marcus Rashford.
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Rashford is sidelined until late March with a double stress fracture to his back and the MEN revealed last week United players had been informed the club were trying to sign a forward. Marouane Fellaini, Daley Blind, Radamel Falcao and Martial joined United on deadline day.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lamented the impotence of United’s strikers after they beat Manchester City 1-0 but lost 3- 2 on aggregate in their League Cup semi-final. Solskjaer has repeatedly implored United goalscorers to get scruffy goals and appeared to criticize Anthony Martial’s performance in the derby on Wednesday night.
“We need more goalscorers, we need more goals; that’s a definite, Solskjaer said. “Need someone who wants to break their nose to score a goal or their toe, doesn’t have to be the nice ones, we know that.
“I am challenging them and I need to challenge them more, because we can’t just score nice goals.” Even today we pegged them back at times and played them deep and they stayed outside their box and defended, but we couldn’t create those chances, those moments.
“We’re going to get there, no doubt, these players want to learn, they’ve improved so much. “
When Solskjaer was specifically asked about the mercurial Martial, he replied:” I’ll never accept Players not wanting to score goals and easy goals, because they’re easy goals when you make right movements and stay in the box.
“I’m going to work with them and we’re going to work and work and work until we get it done.
” I ‘m not sure,’ Solskjaer said of a possible loan deal. “We need more goals. I know if we get Bruno over the line We got a boy there who’ll score and create. So let’s talk on Friday.”
Martial has scored a creditable 20 in 23 appearances this term but was found wanting against City’s makeshift back three of Nicolas Otamendi, Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo at the Etihad. His partner, Mason Greenwood, was replaced by Daniel James at half-time but United failed to get a second goal to force a penalty shootout. Greenwood, 23, has scored times in his first full campaign.
United sources expect one more youngster to leave on loan before the pm deadline tonight. James Garner, 18, may be allowed to gain regular playing time now United have reinforced their midfield with Fernandes and sources close to the teenager told the MEN any move would be a ‘late one’.
Aidan Barlow, 20, recently returned from a six-month spell with Norwegian side Tromso and has not played for the Under – 46 s this month since it would disqualify him from a loan move. Players can only represent two clubs in a single season.
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