Man United ‘consider shock swoop for 35-year-old Jamie Vardy’ after ending Marko Arnautovic pursuit

Manchester United are reportedly considering a shock move for Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy as Erik ten Hag continues his search for attacking reinforcements.

United sit bottom of the Premier League with a goal difference of minus five after two defeats from their opening two fixtures, including Saturday’s 4-0 drubbing at Brentford.

Ten Hag’s men have scored just one league goal – and that was an own goal – pointing to a lack of firepower in the Dutchman’s squad and now 35-year-old Vardy has emerged as a target according to The Athletic.

United abandoned a swoop for Bologna’s Marko Arnautovic last week due to fan backlash

United have turned their attention to Vardy following fan backlash after the club entered talks to sign Bologna’s Marko Arnautovic last week.

The move angered sections of the club’s fanbase, leading to bosses opting against a swoop for the Austrian.

Vardy is into his 10th season at the King Power Stadium and it remains to be seen whether a move to Old Trafford would be of interest to the striker at this stage of his Career.

The former England international has resisted the overtures of a so-called top six club before when Arsenal approached Leicester for the striker in the wake of the Foxes’ miraculous title win in 2016.

Vardy has spent 10 years at King Power Stadium and won the Premier League title in 2016

After pondering the move, Vardy opted to remain at Leicester where he went on to represent the club in the Champions League and Europa League whilst adding to his trophy haul by lifting the FA Cup and Community Shield in 2021. 

Vardy is not the only option for Ten Hag with United keeping tabs on Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata.

Morata, 29, Knows all about the Premier League after a three-year stint at Chelsea between 2017 and 2020.

United could swoop for Atletico Madrid’s Alvaro Morata who had a spell at Chelsea in 2017

Espanyol striker Raul De Tomas is on United’s radar after a prolific two spell at the La Liga club

Espanyol striker Raul de Tomas is also on United’s radar after an impressive two-year spell at the La Liga club.

De Tomas has netted 45 times in 89 appearances for Espanyol making a host of Europe’s top clubs sit up and take notice of the 27-year-old.

Meanwhile, Ten Hag appears no closer to resolving the future of wantaway forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

United are in desperate need of a striker after Cristiano Ronaldo told the club he wanted to go

The Portuguese star wants to leave Old Trafford before the transfer window closes so that he can play for a club in the Champions League.

But there are currently no takers for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner and should he not secure a move away then he will have no choice but to remain at Old Trafford.

With the future of Marcus Rashford also unclear, attacking reinforcements are paramount if United are to pull themselves out of their current malaise.