Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has warned the Red Devils off a January swoop for Red Bull Salzburg forward Erling Braut Haaland.

The 19-year-old has scored 28 goals in 22 appearances at club level this season and is believed to be a leading target for United ahead of next month's winter transfer window.

Berbatov, however, has claimed that his former side do not need to bring another forward to the club at the start of 2020 as they already have enough options in the final third of the field.

"I don't think United need to sign a striker in January as they have decent options up front already," he said. "I want Marcus Rashford to get better and better, I'm a big admirer of Anthony Martial and am keen to see Mason Greenwood get more time on the pitch," the Evening Standard quotes Berbatov as saying.

"I think United have the talent there and signing a new striker, whether it's an emerging talent like Haaland or the more experienced Mario Mandzukic, could discourage their young players.

"I know there's speculation about Haaland coming to United in January. He's a big centre-forward, an old-fashioned target man who scores tap-ins - so quite different from Rashford and Martial.

"Haaland would offer United something different, but coming from Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga would be a massive step up, so United need to think carefully about if he's the right man and how he would fit in with their style of play."

Rashford and Martial have both been in impressive form for United in recent weeks, while Greenwood scored a double in Thursday's 4-0 win over AZ in the Europa League.

The summer departures of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez have left the 20-time English champions short in the final third, though, which could see the club dip into the winter market.