Being usurped by Chelsea at the last minute in the race to sign Pedro last week is not sitting well with some Manchester United fans.

Red Devils boss Louis Van Gaal claimed it was ultimately his decision to pass on the deal but a section of the United support has blamed club chief executive Ed Woodward, for allowing the World Cup Winner to slip through his fingers.

The Old Trafford hierarchy have not been helped by their side’s fairly toothless start to the new league campaign.

Just two goals in the opening three fixtures along with the decisions to allow both Radamel Falcao and Robin Van Persie leave the club, now see fans restlessly hoping for striking reinforcements.

Talisman Wayne Rooney at least offered some reassurance midweek with his return to form in Bruges.

A reliance on Rooney looks risky though, with the alternatives amounting to towering midfielder Fellaini, faltering Mexican Hernandez and the unproven James Wilson.

With less than a week to go before the transfer window slams shut, who could United realistically hope to bring in?

Charlie Austin

Charlie Austin

Austin was an overwhelming success in the top flight last season and with his side relegated to the Championship, it looked almost certain that Premiership clubs would be queuing up to try and obtain his signature.

Yet several games into the new campaign the former Burnley man remains at QPR.

A perceived lack of big game experience has so far kept the Premier League’s biggest clubs out of the race to sign the 26 year old and Crystal Palace are the current favourites.

Perhaps there is a certain feeling that the £15 million asking price is too much for a man who to date, has only one successful season at the top level under his belt.

It was though, a sensational season and if Austin could continue his form this term, the fee would be a small price to pay for a man who bagged 18 league goals for a relegated side.

Jese Rodriguez

Jese Rodriguez (Real Madrid)

United have spent much of the year so far fending of interest from Real Madrid in their prized goalkeeper David De Gea.

Now with the Red Devils seemingly resigned to losing the young stopper at some point, their tactic seems to be to attempt to prise a star away from the Bernabeu in exchange.

The Spanish giants have refused to budge as yet on the likes of Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.

Young Rodriguez is a much less glamorous potential trade-in but could be a useful addition to Van Gaal’s squad.

If Los Merengues remain serious about De Gea, the forward should be an attainable option. He is a talented individual but not integral to Madrid’s first team so they would surely let him go if it helped secure their goalkeeping position for the next decade.

Jese is also however, largely unproven due to his lack of first team chances at his current club

Harry Kane

harry kane celebrates

The young England man is undoubtedly the brightest striking prospect in the league and was near unplayable at times last year.

Tottenham though, will not want to sell their star forward, nor do they need to.

Nevertheless United can get Kane out of White Hart Lane. It will just be a case of meeting Daniel Levy’s valuation.

The Spurs chairman is notoriously rigid when it comes to his asking price for star players and it is almost guaranteed that regarding Kane, the figure will be astronomical.

You get the sense though, that however high the sum, it would not necessarily scare United off given their recent willingness to spend.

The 22-year-old, who last season made his England debut and bagged 31 goals for his club, would represent the future for the Old Trafford forward line for at least a decade.

He could support Rooney for a couple of years, before taking on the mantle himself.

Besides the huge fee, Spurs would also require a replacement before any deal could progress. Perhaps Hernandez could dangled as a carrot to force the deal through.