Manchester United have less than two days to complete the signing of a striker before the January transfer window slams shut.

Plenty of names have been linked with the club this month, with Leicester City’s Islam Slimani the latest of those reported to be of interest to the Old Trafford recruitment team.

It’s fair to say that there is a growing agenda around the club that Anthony Martial is not cut-out to lead the line at the club without the support of Marcus Rashford, who is side-lined for at least 3 months with a back problem. The Frenchman’s lacklustre performances of late have generated aura of frustration, and questions continue to be asked about the forward’s level of commitment to the club.

Mason Greenwood is a player who Solskjaer has trusted throughout the season, and the 18-year-old has undoubtedly repaid his manager’s faith with the consistent level of performance when called upon. His double-figure goal tally for the season has illustrated the England U21 striker’s eye for goal, forcing comparisons to Robin van Persie and giving fans plenty of hope for the future. However, given his lack of experience, trusting the teenager with such a prominent role in the side for the remainder of the season will surely be a step too far for such young shoulders.

Whichever way you look at it, United need to add an experienced body up-front. The trouble is, so does almost every other club in the Premier League at the moment.

With Chelsea set to complete a deal for Dries Mertens from Napoli, having been seemingly linked with moves for every striker on the planet during the course of this month, it demonstrates just sheer scarcity of available attacking options in what is already a transfer window famous for its lack of value.

United might well be one of many clubs fighting over the likes of Edinson Cavani, Timo Werner, Moussa Dembele and Islam Slimani, but is there a forward out there who has slipped under the radar and could be a genuine option for Ed Woodward before the end of the month?

Step forward Thomas Muller.

The German, who is one of the most decorated players in world football, has found himself tipped with a move to Manchester United for the best part of a decade – with Ed Woodward rumoured to be a big admirer.

According to reports in Germany, United’s Executive Vice-Chairman might well be in with a chance of signing the 30-year-old, who is no longer guaranteed a starting role at Bayern Munich.

The German champions’ status as European heavyweights has been dinted in recent years, and several sources claim The Bavarians are planning a squad overhaul – with senior players such as Muller potentially being shown the door.

Muller may not be the generational talent we saw help propel Germany to World Cup glory in 2014, but he still has an awful lot to offer Europe’s top sides. 7 goals and 14 assists in 27 appearances this season proves just that.

A loan move would make sense for both parties, not least United who would avoid taking a big financial hit if things did not work out. Besides, aged 30, Muller is by no means at the twilight of his career.

It almost feels like destiny that Muller will one day join Manchester United, and now feels like the perfect time to make a move. Let’s hope we are not left with the same sense of disappointment felt when Bastien Schweinsteiger’s high-profile move to Old Trafford failed to produce any more than a painful reminder of might have been if he had joined years earlier.