Man United consider shock move for ex-Stoke City striker

Manchester United will be hoping to close the gap to the Premier League’s top four when they host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon. 

Erik ten Hag’s side have struggled so far this season, but a number of narrow victories have kept alive their hopes of finishing in the top four.

At present the Red Devils sit eighth in the top flight table, eight points behind fifth-placed Spurs and nine points behind Arsenal in fourth.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recent minority takeover of United could have repercussions during the current transfer window, but the Manchester outfit are believed to be in the hunt for a new striker and a former Stoke City man has emerged as a shock target.

As per 90min, Bayern Munich’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is on United’s list of potential targets as they search for attacking reinforcements.

The report claims that, while United could end the window without signing a new striker, Choupo-Moting is on their list of targets if they do decide to add to Ten Hag’s side.

Choupo-Moting has emerged as a shock target for Manchester United

It is claimed that the Manchester club are prioritising outgoings this month, and that a move for a forward could prove difficult until out-of-favour Anthony Martial departs.

Last summer, United paid more than £70 million to sign Rasmus Hojlund from Italian club Atalanta, but the Dane has struggled since arriving in England and has scored just once in the Premier League so far.

Choupo-Moting, who played for Stoke between 2017 and 2018, joined Bayern from French side Paris Saint-Germain in 2020 and has since scored 38 goals in 107 matches for the German side across all competitions.

During his time in the French capital, the Cameroon international netted just nine times in 51 games.

The Cameroonian’s current contract with Bayern is set to expire this summer, and United could therefore look to take advantage of his situation and sign him this month.

United’s need for attacking reinforcements stems from their poor performances in front of goal so far this term, with only Burnley and Sheffield United have scored fewer than the Red Devils’ 22 Premier League goals so far this term.