Manchester United considering Mathys Tel and Christopher Nkunku deals as Marcus Rashford nears exit
Manchester United will try to sign a forward on deadline day with Marcus Rashford set to leave the club to join Aston Villa on loan, and Bayern Munich's Mathys Tel and Christopher Nkunku of Chelsea are top of the shortlist.
Rashford hasn't played for United since mid-December, but he would be the second senior attacker to depart this window, with Antony having already joined Real Betis.
That could leave United short and Ruben Amorim's options at No.9 are both struggling. He has picked a team without a recognised striker against Crystal Palace, with Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund both out of form.
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United have been linked with a move for Leon Bailey but are instead focusing on attackers who can play through the middle, with Tel and Nkunku the two players set to be considered ahead of Monday's 11pm deadline.
Tel has been made available by Bayern Munich this summer, on a loan or permanent move. He has already rejected a transfer to Tottenham, but is open to a loan switch to Old Trafford. Arsenal have also joined the race for the 19-year-old Frenchman, who has scored 16 goals in 83 games for Bayern.
Nkunku is the other player currently being considered by the Old Trafford hierarchy. The 27-year-old could leave Stamford Bridge on loan having struggled for minutes in the Premier League this season. He has started only three of Chelsea's 23 league fixtures, coming on as a subtitute in a further 16. The France international has 13 goals in 29 games, but only two have come in the Premier League.
Chelsea's pursuit of Alejandro Garnacho has gone cold of late, but there is still a fear at United that they could launch a deadline day raid for the Argentine, with United's financial position meaning they would be forced to consider a substantial offer for the forward, despite Amorim's desire to keep him.
Rashford is having a medical at Villa on Sunday and is set to complete a loan move to the Midlands club for the rest of the season. While United will push for an attacking reinforcement on deadline day, the fact that Antony and Rashford have been peripheral figures under Amorim means it isn't considered absolutely essential.