Manchester United have 'tested the waters' for loan-to-buy striker deal amid Chelsea interest

Manchester United are sat in the lower half of the Premier League table heading into 2025 as they turn their focus to a huge clash with Liverpool at Anfield. The Red Devils have ended 2024 with fixtures against Wolves and Newcastle United as Ruben Amorim gets the chance to strengthen his side this month.

The Red Devils have the chance to bolster their ranks this winter when the January transfer window opens later this week. In the meantime, here is a look at some of the latest news and rumours regarding the club....

Striker latest

United have ‘tested the waters’ for a potential loan-to-buy deal for PSG striker Randal Kolo Muani ahead of next month, as detailed in a report by French news outlet Foot Mercato. However, they face competition from league rivals Chelsea as well as European clubs including AS Monaco, RB Leipzig, Juventus, Galatasaray and AC Milan. The Red Devils could see the 26-year-old, who is a France international, as someone to bolster their attacking options. He has struggled to make an impact with his current club and may well be allowed to head out the exit door for a new challenge in the near future.

Kolo Muani joined PSG in 2023 and has since scored 11 goals in 54 games for the Ligue 1 giants. Prior to his return to France, he found the net on 26 occasions in 50 outings for Eintracht Frankfurt. He has also had spells in the past at Nantes and Boulogne and is valued at £25million on Transfermarkt.

He missed a 1v1 in the World Cup final back in 2022 against Argentina. He told L'Equipe: “It could have changed my life. I would have preferred to put it in the background, like everyone else, like all French people, but it happened and these are the vagaries of life. This action makes me want to work in front of goal. I'm working and I think I'm making progress. It will give me the courage to move on and to put it in next time."

He added: "I want to move on, but it's part of my job, it's not as if I'm sad. I'm just not going to forget it, we were very close to bringing back the third star. I'm not going to lie, I hate it."

If he was to join Amorim’s side, he would give them more competition and depth up top and something different to what they already have. In addition, it would be a boost if they didn’t have to pay anything for him yet and got him on loan.

Winger wanted

Real Betis have looked into a possible swoop for United winger Antony but a deal would be ‘very difficult’ to strike, as per ABC. The 24-year-old has been in and out of the team this term and has struggled to make an impact since his transfer to England. The Brazil international has scored 12 goals in 93 matches and is not a regular starter anymore. In fact, he has only featured on five occasions in the league in this campaign so far.