Manchester United are keen to add a new striker to their squad in the January transfer window, after it was confirmed that Benjamin Sesko would be out until the new year with a shin injury.
Bryan Mbeumo is the club's top scorer so far this season with four goals, with Bruno Fernandes on three, although those three all came in the same match against Ipswich Town.
Other than that, Matheus Cunha and Sesko have one each, showing just how in need of attacking prowess United are at the moment. Without Mbeumo, they would be even further down the Premier League table.
It is no surprise then, to hear they are in the market for another frontman, and are aiming to bring one in in the January transfer window, GIVEMESPORT understands.
The Athletic reported that United are keen to open discussions with rivals Leeds United over a move for Dominic Calvert-Lewin in January, and GMS senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs has issued an update on that move in his exclusive newsletter.
Calvert-Lewin Timeline
September 2016 — Everton signed the Sheffield United forward in a deal worth around £1.5m.
October 2020 — Calvert-Lewin debuted for England and scored in a 3-0 win over Wales.
June 2021 — Southgate named him in England's Euro 2020 squad after a 21-goal season.
August 2021 — A broken toe and quad injury triggered years of persistent fitness problems.
August 2025 — Leeds signed him on a free transfer after his Everton contract expired.
He said: "The winter market is fast approaching and Manchester United are looking at the striker market. Why? Because Benjamin Sesko is out with a shin injury and not expected to return until at the earliest January 2027. And then in the long run, there remains a chance that Joshua Zirkzee leaves the football club in 2027.
"Before the summer transfer window opened, Manchester United were exploring younger kinds of profiles, players like Nilson Angulo, who went to Sunderland and had interest from Barcelona, and Etta Eyong, who started the last campaign really well at Levante, he's still there now. But at this stage, the feeling is Manchester United want slightly older, if not significantly so, compared to those players, and more importantly, somebody that they can just drop straight in as a source of goals.
Three other players Manchester United could target
Ignor Matanovic in action for Croatia vs Portugal
"And this is where the Athletic first reported Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a target for the January window. Yet Leeds United will fight to keep him and their intent is to offer Calvert-Lewin a new deal."
And GMS understands that Calvert-Lewin is close to signing a new deal with the Whites. it is not agreed yet, but the expectation is that the 29-year-old will put pen-to-paper on a new contract at Elland Road, which would snuff out any hopes of United getting a deal over the line in January.
Jacobs did reveal other names that United chiefs have been discussing. He added: "A younger profile, but somebody in red hot form is Igor Matanović, and as I exclusively revealed, both Manchester United and also Tottenham Hotspur have taken a look at the 6 ft 5 ins Freiburg forward who I believe last campaign scored 11 Bundesliga goals, so that could still be one to keep an eye on as well.
Liverpool began the 2025/26 Premier League season as defending champions.
"United have held historical appreciation for both Ivan Toney and also have looked in the past at Jean Philippe Mateta. At this stage, there's been no movement towards trying to get either of them, but let's see whether that changes, particularly with Mateta, who we know was trying to cancel his Crystal Palace contract.
"At this stage it's Dominic Calvert-Lewin that Manchester United have started to explore. They are going to get a fair amount of resistance from Leeds United though."
Michael Carrick (Man Utd)
Michael Carrick (Man Utd)