Sky Sports pundits question Manchester United's transfer approach amid Joshua King reports

Manchester United have been heavily linked with a deadline day move for Bournemouth striker Joshua King.

Sky Sports pundits Joleon Lescott and Charlie Nicholas believe that Manchester United's deadline day pursuit of Bournemouth striker Joshua King is a sign of where the Reds are at as a club right now.

United, who will resume their Premier League campaign with a clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford tomorrow tea time, have been heavily linked with re-signing King, a player they sold to Blackburn Rovers back in January 2013.

The MEN understands that United are in the market for a forward and King has been linked with a £20m move.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has insisted that he did not expect the Reds to make any more additions before the 11pm deadline this evening.

Unsurprisingly, the talk of United bringing King back to Old Trafford has caused quite a stir.

Speaking on Sky Sports this afternoon, regular pundit Nicholas said: "I think Manchester United are desperados now, I really do. I think they’re going into a market that I’ve never seen before.

"The global number one of two years ago is no longer the global number one. They’re going after a mish-mash of players. I am a fan of Josh King but he’s not a number nine. Can he partner Martial at the moment? Is he a replacement for Rashford? I don’t think he is.

"It makes you wonder why did they ever sell him in the first place?"

Nicholas' claims were pretty much matched by that of fellow pundit and former Manchester City defender Lescott, who said: "Obviously they’re not the power they were of many years ago and the names you just mentioned (Ighalo, Slimani, Dembele), you’ll know how true they are more than me.

"But in regards to the attraction, they’re not the force they were. Players want to win trophies and at the moment Man United are not dominating the domestic season enough to do that."

Though Lescott doesn't see King fitting the profile of a United-type signing, he does believe that the Bournemouth forward, at this moment in time, would be a good addition for the Reds.

"I think the fact he’s played for the club and worked with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before [makes a difference]," he continued. "He has an impact on games regardless of his scoring record.

"He does impact games with his physicality and it’s something, that physicality, that Manchester United might need at the moment."

However, Lescott does believe that United would face a tremendous fight to land the 28-year-old, especially with how big a player he is for the Cherries.

He added: "I think it’s more important for Bournemouth to keep him than it is for Man United to sign Josh King. The impact he has on their team - they’re half the team without him and obviously Wilson as well in regards to strikers.

"Josh King is not just a goal-scorer for Bournemouth, he takes transition from defence to attack so he’s vitally important for them."