Manchester United are open to signing a forward in the January transfer window to offset the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Manchester Evening News understands United are able to "push the button" to reveal a list of potential options in the mid-season market.
United are planning to supplement director of data science Dominic Jordan with four more data scientists but believe they are in a position to immediately identify attainable targets in January.
Read more: Glazers confirm United is up for sale
In the summer, United contemplated moves for PSV Eindhoven attacker Cody Gakpo and Barcelona outcast Memphis Depay amid protracted discussions to sign their number one attacking target Antony.
Gakpo, 23, scored in the Netherlands's opening World Cup win over Senegal and is contracted to PSV until 2026, so would be pricier than Depay, who is unwanted by Barcelona.
United bid for Bologna striker Marko Arnautovic in August but withdrew following a vociferous backlash from supporters on sporting and integrity grounds. Young strikers Brian Brobbey and Benjamin Sesko were also monitored before the pair transferred to Ajax and RB Leipzig.
United manager Erik ten Hag expressed concerns about United's attack during pre-season and they have a goal difference of 0 as they sit in fifth in the Premier League table.
Although Ronaldo, 37, became an unreliable frontman, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are the only players to have scored at least four times this season. Rashford is United's top scorer with eight and Martial is on half as many, having missed 13 weeks of the season due to three separate injuries.
Jadon Sancho has not scored in more than two months and while Antony struck in his first three Premier League appearances he last registered on October 9. The 18-year-old Alejandro Garnacho has emerged as a credible option, scoring winners away at Real Sociedad and Fulham, but Anthony Elanga is without a club goal since February.
Antony missed United's last five fixtures through injury and Sancho has not played since October 22 because of illness. Martial has been absent for 14 out of United's 21 matches.
Facundo Pellistri was an unused substitute in 12 consecutive games and has still not made his United debut more than two years on from his €10million arrival. Amad Diallo has tallied three goals in his last five games on loan at Championship club Sunderland and United do have the option to recall him in January.
Ronaldo torched his relationship with United in an incendiary interview with Piers Morgan where he said he had "no respect" for Ten Hag, accused the club of betraying him over his absence from the pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia, and pilloried the owners, the Glazer family.
United confirmed on Tuesday night Ronaldo had left "by mutual agreement". Of the four Premier League matches Ronaldo started in this season, United won one, lost two and drew one.
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