Manchester United are said to be “in the first line” of clubs to sign a star striker target this summer, but they will face competition from Arsenal and Napoli.
Manchester United’s striker position has been a difficult one to fill in recent years, since Robin van Persie’s unbelievable season in Sir Alex Ferguson’s last year at the club.
Many great centre-forwards, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku, have impressed for one season before beginning to struggle in their later years at the club, due to injury or a change in management.
Edinson Cavani appeared to have solved the issue when he joined under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, but his struggle with injuries and the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo saw him leave the club, and nobody has come close to his level since.
Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee have been United’s two main strikers this season, but both have failed to impress when leading the line. Zirkzee has played better as an attacking midfielder, while Hojlund has struggled for confidence in front of the goal.
Rúben Amorim has already missed out on one centre forward signing, with Liam Delap set to move to Chelsea after links with United, but he will continue to search for a new striker.
United to continue pursuit of Gyokeres
Despite missing out on Champions League football after losing the Europa League final, United look set to continue to fight for Viktor Gyökeres, hoping he will want to reunite with his former manager at Sporting CP.
Gyökeres has scored 54 goals and registered 13 assists in his 52 appearances this season, including six goals in the Champions League in just eight games, and Amorim is known to be a “major” admirer of the Swede.
O Jogo have reported that United remain “in the first line” to sign the Swedish international, but they will face competition from Arsenal and Napoli this summer.
If Napoli win the race for Gyökeres, that could mean a deal for Victor Osimhen becomes a possibility for United this summer, with the Nigerian almost certain to move away from Naples if he has to compete with Lukaku and Gyökeres.
However, with Arsenal also looking for a striker this summer to replace Kai Havertz up front, United could struggle to land their top targets without any European football.
United have an Obi dilemma
In just one season at the club, Chido Obi has impressed almost everyone who has watched him, from his performances in the under-18s to his promising cameos in the first team.
However, how Amorim chooses to manage his minutes next season will be crucial in his development as a footballer. At just 17 years old, he probably doesn’t need to play every week in week out, but spending another year in the under-21s won’t do him any good.
Obi has already shown that he is above the level of the Premier League 2, but if United sign a new striker and keeps Højlund and Zirkzee, first-team minutes could be very difficult to come by.
One young striker already looks set to move on loan, with Enzo Kana Biyik set to move on loan to INEOS-owned Laussane with Sekou Kone, when his deal becomes official.
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