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Romelu Lukaku is having a hard time at Manchester United. While it is too soon to rule him out, it is clear that the Red Devils cannot rely on him to lead the line and take the responsibility of scoring goals right now. The Belgian has improved the other aspects of his game, however, his lack of goals have hurt United tremendously so far. Lukaku has scored just 4 goals in 10 games so far in the Premier League and has 4 goals in 14 games in all competitions. His replacements have not worked - Sanchez has looked lively as a Number 9 recently, but has not been able to score, while both Rashford and Martial have been ineffective through the middle.
With both Mourinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic confirming that the Swedish striker shall not return to Manchester United on loan, the Red Devils are desperately short in the goal scoring department. The recent rise of Martial has been reassuring, but United still need someone to be the focal point of attack. In the Premier League, United have scored just 19 goals, compared to City's 33 and Chelsea's 27. One can only imagine how far United could have gone with an in-form striker in their ranks.
As such, Mourinho will probably be coaxing his Board for the funds to get him a proven goal scorer in January and he needs to look no further than these 5 men. With the right mix of technique, speed and an eye for the goal, these 5 players could replace Lukaku, or at least give him some competition and power United's season back on track.
#5 Cristhian Stuani (Uruguay, Girona FC)
Goals scored this season - 8
The Uruguayan striker is the only player in this list with experience in playing in English conditions. Stuani played for Middlesbrough in the Championship in 2015/16 season, where he scored 11 goals from 39 games, including 7 from 35 games in the Championship, earning them promotion to the Premier League. In the following season, he could manage just 5 goals in 28 games in all competitions. Last season, he moved back to La Liga, joining Girona and had an immediate effect, scoring 21 goals from 33 games. This season, the striker already has 8 goals from 9 games in La Liga.
Stuani is clever with his feet and knows his way to the goal very well. He is blessed with a good left foot and is also opportunistic with his movements. His experience will be an added bonus for Manchester United. However, his age - he is already 32, will be a constraint for the Premier League side. Stuani is nursing an adductor problem at the moment, which could also be a concern. The striker is currently valued at £9m and as such, could be a useful back up for Lukaku until he regains his form.
#4 Iago Aspas (Spain, Celta de Vigo)
Goals scored this season - 9
The Spanish Center-Forward knows his way to the goal very well. He scored 26 goals from 49 games in all competitions in the 2016/17 season and followed it up with 23 goals from 37 games in all competitions last season. So far this season, he has already scored 9 goals from 12 games, including 8 from 11 games in La Liga.
Aspas has an exquisite first touch and a brilliant left foot, but he is equally adept with his right. Blessed with speed and an eagle for the goal, the Spanish striker is quite different from Lukaku but would thrive in Mourinho's counter-attacking system. Another advantage of Aspas is that he is comfortable playing on the right wing too, which could suit United nicely. Age could be a concern since he is 31 already, but United do require experience in attack.
While Aspas's consistency might be a problem - his goal scoring has been sporadic so far, he could be an able deputy for Lukaku, but he will cost at least £22.5m. Whether United are willing to splash the cash for a 31-year-old remains to be seen, but Aspas definitely has the ingredients that would entice United in January.
#3 Krzysztof Piatek (Poland, Genoa CFC)
Goals Scored this season - 13
The Genoa striker is just 23 years old and as such is both a risk and an investment in the market. Krzysztof Piatek has already scored 13 goals from 12 games in all competitions so far and in the Serie A, the striker has found the net 9 times in 11 games.
Krzysztof Piatek started the season brightly, scoring in each of his first 7 games in the Serie A. However, he has been on a barren run in the last 4 games before the start of this weekend, a period where he has failed to score against all the three heavyweights of the league - Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan.
The Polish striker is very strong in the air and also runs the line beautifully. He has a great eye for the goal and is good both in the box as well as outside. His strongest point is his finishing and he is extremely composed in front of goal. While his age and lack of experience in top leagues remain a concern, Krzysztof Piatek could be a great replacement for Lukaku. However, he will not be cheap, with his recent form meaning that the Polish striker could cost at least 40m Euros.
#2 Robert Lewandowski (Poland, Bayern Munich)
Goals Scored this season - 13
If Manchester United do decide that cash is not a constraint, they need to look no further than Robert Lewandowski. While he has not been prolific so far in the league this season, the Polish Striker has a phenomenal record in front of goal. Last season, Lewandowski scored 41 goals from 48 games in all competitions, including 29 from 30 matches in the Bundesliga. In fact, since the 15/16 season, the Striker has hit 40 goals every year without fail.
This season, Lewandowski has 5 goals from 9 games in the league but has managed 13 goals from 15 games in all competitions already. He is a proven goalscorer and has the experience that United requires at the top of their attacking spear. The striker is still only 30, so he does have a few good years ahead of him, and can help young strikers like Rashford flourish under his guidance.
The problem is that he will not come cheap, as he is currently valued at £72m and Bayern will be reluctant to sell. His arrival would also most certainly mean the end of Lukaku's tenure at United, however, the two could be used in tandem to push each other to perform better.
#1 Ciro Immobile (Italy, Lazio)
Goals Scored this season - 9
The Italian represents everything that United need right now and he would work very well in the system that the Red Devils play in. He also has the advantage of being available for the Champions League.
Immobile has scored 9 goals in 15 games so far this season. The striker was in splendid form last season too, scoring 41 goals from 47 games. He will turn 29 in February, which makes him just about right for Manchester United. However, prizing him away from Lazio will not be easy.
The Italian is good in the air and very clever with his runs in the box. He has a fantastic right foot and is very efficient in front of the goal. He could work in tandem with talents like Pogba, Martial and Rashford, because he works well when the ball is moved fast across the pitch, with small clever passes. His speed, skills and finishing make him very enticing for Manchester United, but as usual, Immobile has a big price tag on him. The Italian will cost at least £45m, so United need to decide if they are ready to invest that much. However, if he does make the move, Immobile has the qualities to succeed at Old Trafford and would make the United attack lethal.
