Manchester United are “more likely” to sign Lyon striker Moussa Dembele in January than someone like Tammy Abraham, transfer insider Dean Jones has told GIVEMESPORT.

The Red Devils are on the hunt for a striker in the January window following Cristiano Ronaldo’s unceremonious departure from Old Trafford, with Jones previously telling GMS that Dembele and Abraham were potential targets.

What’s the latest news involving Dembele and United?

With 24 goals across all competitions last season, Ronaldo finished the 2021/22 campaign as United’s top scorer, but the 37-year-old failed to impress new boss ten Hag. Handed just four Premier League starts before departing the club, Ronaldo’s second coming at Old Trafford may be over but its impact is still being felt at the club.

United, now without a recognised centre forward, are scouring the January market in search of a new striker. It’s a position that ten Hag has openly spoken about, with the Dutch manager telling the club website in mid-December that United would only settle for “the right player”.

It had looked as if that player would end up being PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo, who United were heavily linked with and had been rumoured to be preparing a bid. Instead, the Netherlands international put pen to paper on a deal worth up to £45 million with Liverpool, reducing United’s potential options even further.

While the Gakpo snub poses more questions about the legitimacy of United’s recruitment policy, it leaves ten Hag’s side scratching the bargain bucket with the window now open. One name emerging as a potential option for the North West-based outfit is Lyon’s Moussa Dembele, with reports in France suggesting the forward could be on his way to Manchester.

What’s Jones said about Dembele and United?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Jones has hinted that United may be forced to turn to Dembele in the January window with Media Foot reporting he could be gettable for United and the Glazers for just €8m-10m (£7m-9m) with his contract due to run out this summer.

“Moussa Dembele is possibly more likely [than Tammy Abraham] given his contract situation at the moment.

“But still, it doesn’t directly fit with the loan or cheap buy narrative being set up by United.”

What would Dembele offer United?

A product of the Fulham youth academy, Dembele impressed for the west London outfit, before moving to Celtic in 2016. Just over 50 goals in 94 appearances later, Dembele swapped Glasgow for Lyon in a deal worth £20 million, where he’s remained ever since.

Capable of scoring a variety of different goals, Dembele has netted 69 times for Lyon in just over 150 matches, with the 26-year-old now tipped to leave the Groupama Stadium. A natural striker, Dembele, who pockets a reported £52,000 each week, could provide the solution for Ten Hag at the tip of his attack.

With plenty of wide options, including the in-form duo Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, the arrival of a centre-forward could be one of the final pieces in Ten Hag’s United jigsaw.