Manchester United offered chance to sign 'very special' forward ahead of transfer deadline: report

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag looks on during his side's defeat at West Ham in December 2023.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Manchester United have been offered a last-minute opportunity to sort out their striker issues, ahead of the January transfer window closing on Thursday.

With Anthony Martial suffering another injury setback, Manchester United have now been left with just Rasmus Hojlund as the club's only recognised centre-forward, leaving them scrambling for a back-up option. 

But it seems like they won't have to look too far, as one European giant has approached them with a player of their own. 

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 2: Anthony Martial of Manchester United in action during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St. James Park on December 2, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

Martial has suffered another injury (Image credit: Getty Images)

According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Manchester United have been offered the opportunity to sign Hugo Ekitike on loan until the end of the season by PSG.

Described as "very special" by his former Reims manager, Oscar Garcia, Ekitike arrived in the French capital from Reims in the summer of 2022 as part of a loan deal with an obligation to buy for £30m. His 10 goals in 24 appearances at Reims in 2021/22 put him on the radar of many of Europe's top clubs, but the 21-year-old has so far struggled to make his mark at PSG.

After making 32 appearances in all competitions for PSG last term, Ekitike has featured in just eight minutes of football all season this time around. With Goncalo Ramos and Randal Kolo Muani preferred by Luis Enrique, Ekitike's time at the Parc des Prince - for this season at least - seems like it's coming to an end.

Manchester United target Hugo Ekitike of Paris Saint-Germain looks o during the Ligue 1 match between FC Nantes and Paris Saint-Germain at Stade de la Beaujoire on September 03, 2022 in Nantes, France.

Ekitike has been offered to Man United (Image credit: Aurelien Meunier - PSG/PSG via Getty Images)

As such, the French champions are looking to loan him out, with Manchester United offered the opportunity to sign him. 

Whether the Red Devils will take them up on that offer remains to be seen, though, despite their struggles at centre-forward. Erik ten Hag has continued to maintain that no signings will be made in January, with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules (PSRs) limiting the club's spending.

That's even after loaning out five first team players, with Donny van de Beek, Jadon Sancho, Hannibal Mejbri, Facundo Pellistri and Alvaro Fernandez all spending the second half of the campaign away from Old Trafford - highlighting how close Manchester United must be to the spending limit. 

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Ryan Dabbs
Staff writer

Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.