If there is even a semblance of truth in these claims, it reflects very poorly on United.
Louis van Gaal is facing into three further months of league and cup football with Wayne Rooney and two 19-year-olds as his strikers.
The United boss turfed Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez out of his squad, in the summer, and showed zero interest in signing loan deal flop Radamel Falcao on a permanent deal.
The vice president of AS Monaco has already stated that United paid almost double for Anthony Martial than what they first bid - they ended up handing over £36m while their first bid was £21.6m.
Now, it seems, that van Gaal was not so bullish.
The Dutchman was aware that his striking options were scant. United reportedly balked at the thought of paying £48m for Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus.
It would only make sense that they would cast a wide net in the hope of finding a proven goalscorer.
Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato claims United were looking to sign him to fight with Rooney and Martial for a starting spot up front.
"I won’t lie,"
he told Brazilian broadcaster Globo, "two hours before closing [the transfer window] I had a very nice offer from Manchester United. I was expecting it, but I only knew after when they offered.
"But my focus now is here. I am working to do my best and possibly stay at Sao Paulo."
Pato scored 51 goals in 117 games with AC Milan but is now back in Brazil with Sao Paulo.
He continued, "I won’t lie to you that I think yes [about the future]. I see with my family, with the people closest to me, we talk about what will happen, how it will happen, what will be next year.
"It’s only a few months, we don’t count December, so it’s not a long time."
