Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick revealed on Friday that his request to sign a striker in January was rejected by the club despite losing Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood during that period.
France forward Martial joined Sevilla on loan while Greenwood was suspended by United over rape and assault allegations.
Rangnick said that Porto's Luis Diaz, Julian Alvarez of River Plate and Fiorentina's Dusan Vlahovic were on his wishlist but the German was told that "there was no player on the market that could really help us".
Diaz ultimately signed for rivals Liverpool and has been an immediate success, making vital contributions to the club's pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple. Alvarez also signed for one of United's rivals, completing a switch to Manchester City before remaining on loan at River, while Vlahovic joined Juventus and has hit the ground running in Turin, including scoring 33 seconds into his Champions League debut.
"We had four days off at the time and on the Sunday I was informed about the issues with Mason Greenwood and obviously Anthony Martial had already left," Rangnick said ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to Brighton and Hove Albion.
"I was aware that within four days we had some strikers missing and it might make sense, we were still in three competitions - Champions League, FA Cup and fourth in the league. I spoke to the board ... but in the end the answer was no.
"I still believe that we should have at least tried, if we would've found and been able in 48 hours – 48 hours is short notice but it's still 48 hours, it might have been worth to try and internally discuss but we didn't."
United have been reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo for goals - 24 in all competitions - this season, with Edinson Cavani's game time limited due to injury and Marcus Rashford struggling for form.
United, who will welcome Erik ten Hag as their permanent manager in the summer, are currently sixth in the league, five points off the last Champions League spot with two games to play.
Man United's league points totals – with club on course for worst finish
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Manchester United captain Steve Bruce and Bryan Robson hold aloft the FA Premier League trophy after the final home game of the 1992-93 season, when they finished as champions with 84 points. Getty -
Steve Bruce and Bryan Robson lift the trophy after winning the Premiership in the 1993-94 season with 92 points. Getty -
Alex Ferguson's Manchester United finished the 1994-95 season as runners-up with 88 points. Allsport -
Steve Bruce and goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel celebrate with the 1995-96 Premiership trophy after winning the title with 82 points. Getty -
Alex Ferguson holds the Premier League trophy after the final home game of the 1996-97 season, which they won with 75 points. Getty -
Arsenal's Tony Adams tackles United's Teddy Sheringham in the 1997-98 season. United were runners-up behind the Gunners, with 77 points. Allsport -
Manchester United players celebrate winning the title in the 1998-99 season with 79 points. Allsport -
Manchester United's Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lift the Premier League trophy after winning the title in the 1999-2000 season with 91 points. Allsport -
Manager Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane with the Premier League Premiership trophy in 2000-01, a season they won with 80 points. Allsport -
United's Luke Chadwick holds off John McGreal of Ipswich in the 2001-02 season. United finished third with 77 points. Getty -
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Roy Keane celebrate with the Premier League trophy in 2002-3, when 83 points was enough for the title. Getty -
Roy Keane shows his frustration during the 2003-4 season, when United finished third with 75 points. Getty -
Paul Scholes celebrates with Roy Keane and Cristiano Ronaldo during the 2004-05 season, when United finished third with 77 points. Getty -
Striker Wayne Rooney in action during the 2005-6 season, when United finished second with 83 points. EPA -
United players celebrate winning the title in the 2006-7 season with 89 points. Getty -
Ryan Giggs lifts the trophy after United's win in the 2007-8 season with 87 points. Getty -
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with the Premier League trophy after their triumph in 2008-9 with 90 points. Getty -
Michael Owen shoots during the 2009-10 season, when United finished as runners-up with 85 points. EPA -
United celebrate with the Premier League trophy in 2010-11, when they won with 80 points. Getty -
Wayne Rooney looks dejected in the 2011-12 season, when United were runners-up with 89 points. Getty -
Alex Ferguson lifts the Premier League trophy after the 2012-13 season, when they were crowned with 89 points - the last time Manchester United were champions of England. Getty -
Michael Carrick, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata show their disappointment during the 2013-14 season, when United finished in seventh with 64 points, currently their lowest ever tally. Getty -
Manager Louis van Gaal leaves the pitch during the 2014-15 season, when United finished fourth with 70 points. Getty -
Wayne Rooney during the 2015-16 season, when United were fifth with 66 points. Getty -
Manchester United's Anthony Martial in 2016-17, when United were sixth with 69 points. Getty -
Jay Rodriguez of West Bromwich Albion celebrates after scoring against United in 2017-18, when they were runners-up with 81 points. Getty -
Marcus Rashford during the 2018-19 season, when United finished sixth with 66 points. Getty -
Goalkeeper David de Gea during the 2019-20 season, when United finished third with 66 points. Getty -
Marcus Rashford celebrates with Paul Pogba during the 2020-21 campaign, when United were runners-up with 74 points. EPA
