Manchester United plan to relaunch a bid for Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic when the January window opens, The Athletic has learned.



Multiple sources say Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came “very close” to landing the Croatia international in the summer, with a sense that only time defeated United after negotiations that took Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan dragged on.



The United manager is understood to still be highly interested in bringing Mandzukic to Old Trafford in what would most likely be a short-term deal of either six or 18 months, due to the player’s age. He turns 34 in May.



Solskjaer knows Mandzukic would not offer a long-term fix to United’s scoring problems, or even be a regular starter, but is said to believe the former Bayern Munich player brings elite experience, which could add real value to his squad.



At 6ft 3in, Mandzukic would present a different style of centre-forward to Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford or Mason...