Manchester United signing Alvaro Morata this summer would be a risk, says journalist Dean Jones.

The Atletico Madrid man is one striker the Red Devils are thought to be considering, with Erik ten Hag hoping to bring a new No.9 to Old Trafford before the transfer window shuts.

What is the latest news involving Morata?

According to The Athletic, United have held talks over signing Morata, who could be available for £29.6m this summer.

The above comes amid Ten Hag admitting that he wanted United to bring in a new centre-forward earlier in the window.

When asked if United's failure to sign a striker or midfielder four months into his tenure was disastrous, the Dutchman said: "No, and of course once again it would be my preference because we could be starting the process earlier, that’s quite clear. But, at the end of the day, the season is long and you have to get in the right players.

"We [the club and him] co-operate well and it is to my satisfaction and it was better to get the players earlier in because then you get earlier in the process and now we are in the department of midfield and offence, you have seen when we have one injury then we have a problem. That’s clear."

What has Jones said about Morata and United?

Jones thinks United buying Morata can only be described as a risk.

The transfer insider told GIVEMESPORT: "Morata is probably a risk. He needs to play with confidence and belief, and if he joined United and things didn't start well, I'd be pretty worried about him ever bouncing back from it."

Should United sign Morata?

It is quite clear that United need a new centre-forward. Cristiano Ronaldo is 37 years old now and reportedly unsettled at the club, while Anthony Martial picked up an injury before a ball had even been kicked this season.

Is Morata really the answer, though? Probably not, especially given how he fared the last time he was in the Premier League.

The Spain international endured a difficult spell at Chelsea, scoring just 24 goals in 72 appearances for the Blues, with his finishing often coming under scrutiny.

Speaking about Morata after one game back in 2018, United legend and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville said on his podcast (via Daily Star): "When you think about Thierry Henry, when he used to take one-on-ones he was always the favourite.

"When Morata was going through on goal tonight, you thought the goalkeeper was the favourite."

At this stage of the window, though, United are running out of options and Morata is a player who they have been linked with before, so it would not be a complete shock. But you can easily see this not ending well.