Transfer Centre

Bayern Munich's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting 'agrees to join Manchester United'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 05 January 2024

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting 'agrees to join Man United'

Bayern Munich striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting allegedly agrees to join Manchester United on loan for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign.

Bayern Munich striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has apparently agreed to join Manchester United on loan for the remainder of the season.

Despite forking out a whopping £72m to bring Rasmus Hojlund to the club from Atalanta BC over the summer, the Red Devils' desire to bolster their attacking ranks is no secret.

Man United pursued a move for Hojlund after failing with their attempts to capture Bayern's Harry Kane and Napoli's Victor Osimhen, but the Dane has struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League during his first few months at the club.

While netting five goals in Man United's doomed Champions League group-stage campaign, Hojlund went 14 games without opening his Premier League account before belatedly getting off the mark in a 3-2 win over Aston Villa on Boxing Day.

With six goals in all competitions, Hojlund is Man United's joint-top goalscorer this season alongside Scott McTominay, while fellow attacking options Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Antony have just five between them.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts on December 26, 2023 © Reuters

Martial is also unlikely to stay beyond the end of his contract, which expires at the end of the campaign, and Man United are searching for an experienced option to ease the burden on Hojlund's 20-year-old shoulders.

A move for Porto's Mehdi Taremi was initially mooted, but Inter Milan are now said to be at the head of the queue for the Iran international, forcing Man United to scope out alternative attackers.

Now, German outlet Bild - via the Manchester Evening News - states that Bayern veteran Choupo-Moting has given the green light to a six-month loan deal at Old Trafford, having struggled to hit his previous heights in Bavaria this season.

The 34-year-old unexpectedly stepped up in the absence of Barcelona-bound Robert Lewandowski in the 2022-23 season, scoring 17 goals in 30 appearances in all tournaments to earn himself a new one-year deal.

However, with Kane making a blistering start to life at the Allianz Arena, Choupo-Moting's powers have waned, with the Cameroon international boasting just three goals from 19 appearances, starting a mere three Bundesliga matches.

Cameroon's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in January 2022 © Reuters

Bayern Munich would likely sanction Choupo-Moting's exit for the second half of the new term, as Thomas Tuchel can also call upon talented teenager Mathys Tel to cover for Kane should the England captain sustain an injury in the coming months.

Choupo-Moting is no stranger to Premier League football, having represented Stoke City during the 2017-18 campaign, registering five goals and five assists in 30 games during his sole season in England's top flight.

The 6ft 3in striker earned a surprise free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain after his spell at Stoke came to an end, but he managed just nine goals in 51 games for the French champions before reviving his career at Bayern.

Man United are expected to focus on cut-price and loan deals throughout the January transfer window due to Financial Fair Play regulations, and outgoings should also take precedence over incomings.

The Red Devils have already loaned Donny van de Beek out to Eintracht Frankfurt for the remainder of the season, and talks to send the exiled Jadon Sancho back to Borussia Dortmund are believed to be heading in the right direction.