Desperate Man Utd boss Solskjaer will move for Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic, 33, in January transfer window to bolster under-fire frontline

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER is back in the hunt for summer target Mario Mandzukic.

United were keen on a swoop for the Juventus striker during the close season — until the 33-year-old Croatian’s wage demands scuppered his chances of a switch to Old Trafford.

But events since then have brought Mandzukic back into the Red Devils’ sights.

Solskjaer’s lack of options up front were laid bare when Marcus Rashford suffered a groin injury at the weekend.

He allowed Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez to leave in August without replacing them.

So United’s Norwegian boss is looking at Mandzukic as a January buy — knowing that Italian champions Juve are keen to offload a player who has yet to feature for them this season.

The World Cup finalist has yet to play for the Italian champions this season - and has had interest from the Middle East and the United States.

Paul Pogba is set to return from an ankle injury when Rochdale visit Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup tonight.

The Frenchman has been sidelined since the international break, missing United’s wins over Leicester and Astana this month as well as Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at West Ham.

Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is  convinced Pogba will be  available for Monday’s Prem clash with Arsenal and is planning to give the midfielder some game time as they welcome League One Dale.

Solskjaer said: “He’ll probably get some  minutes against Rochdale.

“But we  think he’s ready for Arsenal.”

England forward Marcus Rashford is facing an indefinite spell on the sidelines  due to a groin issue suffered  against  the Hammers.

Mason Greenwood, 17, missed out at the London Stadium with  tonsillitis but is in contention for United’s Gunners clash.