Manchester United have enquired about the possibility of signing Leicester flop Islam Slimani on loan, but have been told it will cost them a £4million fee.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is desperately searching for a new striker following Marcus Rashford's long-term injury and Anthony Martial's topsy-turvy form.

United have just seven days to bolster their forward line and now Solskjaer has been forced into trying to sign Slimani.

Manchester United are interested in signing Islam Slimani, who is currently on loan at Monaco

Slimani struggled for form at Leicester but United may take a punt on the Algerian forward

SLIMANI FACTFILE Club appearances: 306 Goals: 118 Assists: 40 Algeria caps: 68 Goals: 29 Advertisement

Slimani, who scored just eight Premier League goals in 35 appearances for Leicester, remains on the books at the King Power Stadium but has been on loan at Monaco this season.

He was previously shipped out on loan to Newcastle, where he failed to score in four appearances, and Fenerbahce.

The 31-year-old Algerian has had to make do with a substitute role at the Ligue 1 side in recent weeks, but he is now being considered by United.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is desperate to land a striker to help save Manchester United's season

Slimani scores for Monaco against champions PSG during a 3-3 draw earlier this month

Leicester have told the Red Devils that they would have to pay a £4m fee just to sign him on loan until the end of the season.

Slimani has scored seven goals in 14 appearances for Monaco this season, but his Premier League numbers were nowhere near as impressive.

Solskjaer is desperate to land a new forward after Rashford was ruled out for around two months with a double stress fracture in his lower back.

The England striker suffered the injury during United's 1-0 FA Cup replay victory over Wolves, but they have failed to score in both of their games since, losing 2-0 away at Liverpool and at home to Burnley.

United will be without Marcus Rashford for a couple of months, leaving them short of goals

Asked if he needs new signings on Friday, Solskjaer added: 'The squad is stretched but we're getting players back after the winter break as well.

'We will be better off for the break. We're still working on one or two things so let's see if the club get it over the line.'

United's players are believed to feel let down by the club's board for the failure to replace forwards Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez before pulling out of a move for Norway striker Erling Haaland

Meanwhile, talks with Sporting Lisbon over a £55m deal for midfielder Bruno Fernandes have stalled. The Portugal international had been expected to finally complete a move to Old Trafford this month.