It's a problem almost entirely of their own making, but Manchester United find themselves scratching around at the eleventh hour trying to sign a striker. 

Marcus Rashford's double stress fracture in his back has left Ole Gunnar Solskjaer desperately short of attacking options. 

Solskjaer has faced criticism for aggravating Rashford's injury by risking him in the FA Cup third-round replay against Wolves, but the issues go back further than that. 

The board failed to replace Romelu Lukaku in the summer following the Belgian's departure for Inter Milan. 

Since Rashford was ruled out, United haven't scored in either of their Premier League games.

While exciting, the arrival of midfielder Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon won't solve all their problems going forward. 

According to the Independent, United have been exploring multiple potential signings, some of which are still being pursued on Deadline Day.

Josh King

It emerged on Thursday night that Bournemouth had rejected an offer for Josh King believed to be in the region of £20 million. A compatriot of Solskjaer, the 28-year-old has scored 47 Premier League goals in 160 games. The Cherries need to sign a replacement first. 

Teemu Pukki

'Absolutely not' was Norwich's reply. Whatever fee the Canaries could get for their star man would not offset the cost of relegation. They may well go down regardless but they are not going to chance it by selling their topscorer. 

Dries Mertens 

The Napoli forward was also targeted by Chelsea when it looked like Olivier Giroud might be departing, but the fact the Frenchman is having to stay put suggests Mertens will not be moving either. 

Danny Ings

Danny Ings, formerly of Liverpool?! Possibly not the most glamorous option, but before United fans scoff, the Southampton striker has the same number of league goals this season as Rashford and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and more than Sadio Mane, Tammy Abraham and Mo Salah. England are even considering taking him to the Euros. 

Edinson Cavani

Sure, it would be a short-term fix, but doesn't that apply to most of the options United are looking at? It looked as if the Uruguayan was headed for Atletico Madrid but that deal is now off. The veteran is determined to leave PSG, where he's scored 198 goals, but his wages were an obstacle. 

Odion Ighalo

United once aspired to imitate Barcelona - now they're trying to play like Watford. Ighalo, last seen thumping his way around the Premier League as Troy Deeney's side-kick, currently plays for Shanghai Greenland Shenhua. A deal cannot realistically be completed today as all flights from China are grounded due to the coronavirus epidemic.

Salomon Rondon

Rondon did a decent job at West Brom and subsequently moved to Newcastle. Great in the air, he's now at Dalian Yifang - where he's likely to stay for the same reason as Ighalo. 

ANALYSIS 

GIVEMESPORT'S Kat Lucas: 

There's something rather chaotic about this list that must be drawing a wry smile from Mason Greenwood as at this rate, the youngster is going to get plenty of chances.

Let's leave aside the fact that United should never have got themselves in this position. Now that they are here, King seems the most viable. 

Eddie Howe has conceded he's aware of what the club means to his player, with King having started his career at Old Trafford. The question, of course, is what happens to him once Rashford returns and Greenwood continues to accelerate. 

Ings knows that story only too well having suffered an injury-hit spell at Liverpool where he struggled to make the step up. Cavani is the total opposite - a top, top striker but one who has been sidelined at PSG by Mauro Icardi's arrival and who wouldn't necessarily be able to replicate his Paris form in Manchester. 

Ultimately, we wouldn't be having this conversation at all if United had a sporting director and accordingly, a clear strategy.