Manchester United have been urged to sign Borussia Monchengladbach striker Marcus Thuram by former BBC man Noel Whelan.

The Lowdown: Man United eyeing striker

As a result of Man United and Cristiano Ronaldo mutually deciding to part ways in late November, manager Erik ten Hag has identified the need for a new forward.

After his performances at the World Cup, PSV's Cody Gakpo has been heavily linked with a move, while Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos was recently claimed to be the Red Devils' top target, despite a release clause of around £106m.

It appears as though a cut-price target has now been picked out by the United recruitment team, with Thuram now being considered for a switch to Old Trafford, for a fee of just £6m due to his contract expiring in June 2023.

The Latest: Whelan reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan details that going in for the Frenchman would be a low-risk move for Man United, given the low transfer fee, while he also claims that he has the capability to replace Ronaldo:

“When you let go of someone with a pedigree and personality like Ronaldo, you can’t not go out and replace him.

“They’ve got to go out and get a player who can come in and counter-act that disappointment.

“Thuram looks fit, he can do the graft – he fits the bill for Ten Hag.

“He looked very energetic and talented during the World Cup and for £6million, you’re not exactly taking a gamble if you’re a big club like Man United.”

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The Verdict: Get it done?

The 25-year-old was recently lauded as 'world class' by Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schafer, and his performances with Monchengladbach correspond with that description, netting ten goals and bagging three assists in 15 Bundesliga appearances so far.

That tally makes the striker the joint-second highest scorer in the entire division, so it is no wonder he is being linked with a move away from Borussia-Park, and Ten Hag has been presented with a fantastic opportunity to sign him for far below what he is really worth.

It has been reported that the Dutchman won't have much money to spend in January, due to his activity in the summer transfer window, so if he wants to secure a striker for the second half of the season without breaking the bank, Thuram is the ideal option.