Manchester United must find their new Wout Weghorst and do it fast

Manchester United must find their new Wout Weghorst after it was confirmed that Anthony Martial will be out for ten weeks after groin surgery.

“Manchester United striker Anthony Martial has completed successful surgery to address a groin complaint and will be out of action for about 10 weeks as he rehabilitates,” a club statement issued on Wednesday afternoon read.

Anthony Martial has played a bit-part role at United ever since Erik ten Hag took charge of the club, partially due to injury and partially due to becoming the second-choice striker under the Dutchman at Old Trafford.

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Martial has played a little over 2000 minutes of football at United during the last two seasons, which equates to 23 90-minute games in just under 17 months – not enough football to be deemed a priority option under Ten Hag.

With Martial out for periods last season, United drafted in Wout Weghorst on loan from Burnley in order to provide the club with some sort of central-attacking outlet, and although he only scored three goals in his few months at the club, he was a valued part of the overall team.

Martial, who cannot seem to stay fit, has now left Rasmus Højlund as the only viable option in the role, and United must find another striker to support Højlund over the next few months. The club play at least another 18 games this season, depending on their FA Cup progress, and it will be unfair for the 20-year-old to have the lead the line every minute for the rest of the campaign.

Regardless of this, United need another outlet for goals, and a six-month loan for a striker who people know can score may be the perfect scenario for all those involved.

An extra body in the short term to bring some extra dynamic and ability to the attack in a move that would also allow the club to sign a better striker in the summer.

Bayern Munich’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has been a name passed around the transfer circus across the last few months and may be a good option to bring in, with the player having played for both PSG and Bayern Munich as well as gaining Premier League experience at Stoke.

The club, however, are yet to make a move. But they have shown before with Marcel Sabitzer’s loan signing on the final days of last January following an injury to Christian Eriksen that they can act quickly when they need to.

“We wish Anthony a speedy recovery and look forward to his return,” the club concluded in their statement – but with his contract expiring in June, we may not see Martial play in a United shirt again.