Manchester United Transfer News: Robert Lewandowski Race Joined, Latest Rumours

Manchester United have reportedly joined the race to sign Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski as manager Louis van Gaal looks to add necessary quality to his front line.

According to German outlet Bild (via talkSPORT), the Manchester outfit are set to compete with continental giants Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid in an attempt to sign the Polish international.

Sport Witness adds further detail from SportBild's report, indicating that United are prepared to offer Lewandowski similar terms to the €15-million-a-year-after-tax deal being mooted in connection with PSG:

The 27-year-old striker has been in scintillating form so far this season, netting 15 goals in as many Bundesliga appearances, per WhoScored.com. 

By contrast, United's top scorer in the Premier League in the current campaign is Juan Mata with four goals, while strikers Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney have just three and two, respectively, per WhoScored.

Bleacher Report's Dean Jones insists the Red Devils remain a shoo-in for the top four and could perhaps even compete for the title this season:

However, their performances so far in the campaign have been largely uninspiring, and their goal-return of just nine in the last 11 matches in all competitions is indicative of how ineffective they have been in attack.

Lewandowski would undoubtedly be an excellent addition to Van Gaal's squad and would perhaps be the star United need to return to the upper echelons of European football once again.

Though the Red Devils have a string of high-quality players, they are lacking the superstars that defined the great United teams under Sir Alex Ferguson—the likes of Eric Cantona, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney (in his prime) and Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, Lewandowski will be a very hard signing to pull off, not least because of the competition from Real and PSG, but because he is contracted at Bayern until 2019, and they will be very reluctant to let him go before then.

An alternative strike option whom Van Gaal has been encouraged to go in for is Queens Park Rangers' Charlie Austin.

The Englishman netted twice for the Hoops on Tuesday to earn a 2-2 with Brighton and Hove Albion, and former United midfielder Gordon Hill called on the Manchester club to go in for him:

Per David Wright in the Express, United were among a number of Premier League clubs to go after Austin in the summer, but he remained at Loftus Road as his £15 million price tag was not met.

His contract expires in the summer, and he may well be available, at the right price, in January, although Austin previously said he was "not going anywhere" for the rest of the season, per Wright.

The 26-year-old would hardly be a glamour signing for United, but he has proved his scoring credentials in the Premier League following an 18-goal season in 2014-15, per WhoScored.

Given the lack of quality and value usually available in January, he could be a decent addition to Van Gaal's squad if he can be persuaded away in the new year.