Manchester United sit 16th in the Premier League, and the January transfer news already revolves around an attack that has stopped scoring. Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško arrived to support Joshua Zirkzee and Marcus Rashford, yet Michael Carrick’s side still lacks clinicality, and the 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth showed it.

Carrick’s transitional 4-2-3-1 asks for direct attackers who can turn defenders on the counter, and the current group has not done that consistently enough this season.

Their rivals for strikers face different questions. Xabi Alonso has Chelsea fifth after eight matches, with João Pedro on five goals, Emmanuel Emegha newly signed and Danny Welbeck offering veteran cover, so Stamford Bridge needs no immediate reinforcement up front.

Tottenham look better placed still. Roberto De Zerbi has a revamped squad pushing for Champions League contention, having kept Dominic Solanke, the £65m striker contracted until 2030, and added Mathys Tel and Omar Marmoush. He has made those pieces work, although doubts over Richarlison’s output leave a longer-term question at centre-forward.

Both situations point to the same conclusion that United need goals more urgently than any club they will compete with in the market, and January offers the first chance to fix it.

Transfer news: four clubs line up for a Palmeiras forward

Sport Witness, citing Bolavip, says Chelsea, United and Tottenham have joined Everton in the race for Palmeiras striker Vitor Roque, 21. Agent André Cury confirmed the interest ahead of January. Palmeiras hold 80% of his economic rights and Barcelona 20%, so a deal needs at least €50m (about £43m), and his contract runs until December 2029.

Nicknamed Tigrinho, Roque rebuilt his reputation after Barcelona and Real Betis, scoring 29 goals in 96 Palmeiras games, nine this year, including a Copa Libertadores strike against LDU Quito and an assist in a 6-1 win over Clube do Remo. Acceleration, pressing and directness inside the box define him.

He suits De Zerbi’s high-pressing, vertical system and Carrick’s 4-2-3-1, but not Alonso’s structured possession model, where Palmer, Rogers and João Pedro already supply the positional discipline.

Should Manchester United pay £43m for Vitor Roque?

Yes. Roque’s struggles at Barcelona came from instability and limited minutes, not a lack of ability, and at 21 he has rebuilt his confidence and tactical maturity. Palmeiras will hold firm on the €50m floor while Barcelona collect their 20%, so the price will hurt.

United’s frontline is misfiring, and a forward contracted until 2029 offers long-term value that a stopgap cannot. Tottenham are the real competition, since Roque could alternate with Solanke or play from the flanks in De Zerbi’s rotation-heavy system.

He has the athletic ceiling and finishing instinct to cope with the Premier League’s physical demands. Carrick needs a tactical catalyst, and a calculated, high-reward gamble on Roque beats waiting for Spurs to act first.