Manchester United could end up finishing the January transfer window without signing a striker, transfer expert Dean Jones has told GIVEMESPORT.

The Red Devils have been in the market for a centre forward following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo before the recent World Cup break.

What's the latest news on Man United and a new striker?

Shown the exit door by United after his explosive interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo's second coming at Old Trafford may be over, but there are still plenty of questions to be answered. Linked with a move away in the summer, despite arriving back in Manchester just 12 months prior, Ronaldo has left his former employers scrambling for a replacement.

In an interview with the club website during the World Cup break, United boss Erik ten Hag spoke openly about his desire to welcome a forward through the Old Trafford doors in January. Recognising it was a position United needed to bolster, ten Hag also stated the Red Devils would only complete a deal if the "right player" was available.

At that time, it had looked as if Cody Gakpo was the player to end ten Hag's attacker cravings, with a deal between United and PSV Eindhoven looking imminent. Instead, it was United's rivals, Liverpool, who swooped in and snatched Gakpo away from ten Hag, with the Dutch international signing a five-and-a-half-year contract at Anfield.

Exposed in the transfer market, United's shortcomings in the Gakpo deal has left them without any real options heading into January. Now, with the winter window in full swing, it's being hinted United could end the month without welcoming an attacker of any kind.

What has Jones said about United and a striker?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Jones recognised that United's pursuit of an attacker in January could end up unsuccessful, if the right player is unable to be found.

"If the right opportunity isn't there, I don't think they'll panic and sign someone for the sake of it," Jones told GMS.

"So there is a chance that they don't do anything. I don't think it's ideal.

"But ultimately if they had Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Anthony regularly available and then they could call on Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga as back-ups, it doesn't look to be the end of the world."

Which attackers could United target in January?

Already the subject of much interest from Premier League clubs, Joao Felix's future still remains up in the air. The wantaway Atletico Madrid star is said to be available in January, but only for a remarkable £13.5 million loan fee, as per reports. With Chelsea and Arsenal also said to be in the hunt for his signature, United, once again, could be forced to look elsewhere.

Marcus Thuram, who featured for France in their run to the World Cup semi-finals, has been mooted as a potential option, with reports from Germany linking the Borussia Mönchengladbach forward with a Premier League switch. With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, Thuram could be available for a cut-price fee and the player would be open to a United move, according to Bild.