Is Mandzukic the right fit for United?

Manchester United are clearly in need of a new striker and one name keeps cropping up – Juventus’ Mario Mandzukic. The Croatian forward is clearly a quality forward – that isn’t really up for debate –  and he has scored goals wherever he’s been.
Mandzukic has 212 goals in 538 games across all competitions at club level and during his international career with Croatia he managed 33 in 89 games before retiring last year.
It seems almost certain he will leave Juve in January after being completely frozen out by boss Mauricio Sarri, with sporting director Fabio Paratici confirming the club are looking to offload him. “We are talking to Mandzukic to find the best possible solution,” Paratici told Sky in Italy. “We remain open to any scenario, so staying here or going elsewhere. We are discussing it to find the best solution for both parties.”
United are in desperate need of additions in attack and in Mandzukic there is a proven hitman available ahead of the winter window.
It seems like a perfect fit but when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took charge there was plenty of talk of a new era, a new approach to recruitment and a focus on youth.
Mandzukic, at 33 years of age, obviously doesn’t fall into that category.
Over the summer, the Old Trafford outfit made some big moves to bring in Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Daniel James and Harry Maguire.
England international Maguire was already a proven Premier League player and full England international, but the other two were considered prospects who could improve further under the guidance of Solskjaer despite Wan-Bissaka having previously impressed in the top flight with Crystal Palace.
The club also made a point of moving on some of their big names, with Romelu Lukaku joining Inter Milan and then Alexis Sanchez following him on a loan deal, without bringing in like-for-like replacements.
The thinking was the club would make use of their academy and hand the likes of Mason Greenwood, Axel Tuanzebe, Tahith Chong, Angel Gomes and a few others more game time, but it hasn’t really worked out like that so far.
Greenwood has managed six Premier League outings, all as a substitute, but the other three mentioned have just five between them.
There is no doubt Mandzukic could do a job for United and he probably would be a welcome addition in the January window.
The veteran forward has a strong work ethic and is comfortable helping out at the back, the kind of spirit that would not go amiss right now, but at the same time it feels like a quick-fix solution to try and salvage this season – rather than a move that fits with the path they decided to take over the summer.
If Mandzukic were to arrive in the winter, would it would feel like an admission that they got it all wrong in the last transfer window?