05 January 2024 , 10:19
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Former Manchester United striker Mark Hughes has questioned the club's interest in veteran Bayern Munich forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
After overseeing United's worst start to a season in decades, Erik ten Hag has started the New Year under pressure and is keen to bolster his squad in the January transfer window, although the Dutchman is likely to be working with limited funds.
Ten Hag is understood to be seeking further reinforcements in attack to ease the goalscoring burden on summer signing Rasmus Hojlund and Choupo-Moting, 34, has emerged as a target.
Hughes managed the versatile forward during his time at Stoke City - but he isn't sure the Cameroon international is capable of making a significant impact at Old Trafford.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Hughes said: "I think it’s needs must at this moment in time. I had Choupo-Moting at Stoke, I brought him to the club. He’s a great guy around the place, has a nice personality, and can play clearly.
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"He’s more of a player that would be a good back-up. Whether or not he can drive a team himself, I'm not quite sure. But in terms of bringing someone into the Premier League, he has that understanding, a bit like Timo Werner who has experience at Chelsea which is a real consideration. In terms of ability they tick the boxes but whether they can make a huge difference to United, I'm not too sure."
Choupo-Moting scored just five goals for Stoke and was part of the team which was relegated from the top-flight in 2018, but has since gone on to play for some of Europe's elite, including Bayern and Paris Saint-Germain.
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Erik ten Hag is aiming to bolster his squad in the January transfer window (Ash Donelon/Manchester United FC)United spent £72million to bring Hojlund to the club from Atalanta in the summer but the 20-year-old has struggled to hit the ground running, scoring just six goals in 23 appearances.
The Denmark international finally broke his Premier League duck on Boxing Day with a goal against Aston Villa - but Hughes feels Ten Hag may be asking too much of him to lead the line for United given his limited experience.
He added of Hojlund: "He's struggling with the level at the moment. It's a huge ask to expect [so much of] a young 20-year-old striker who hasn't had a great deal of experience at any level. Huge amount of money they paid for him, there's huge faith in his ability, but at the moment he's not the finished article."