Manchester United are eyeing a move for a new forward to bolster their attack, but they have been dealt a huge blow.
After a busy summer earlier this year, Manchester United are already looking ahead to preparing for next season. It has been reported that United are interested in adding another exciting attacker to their squad, and in recent weeks they have been linked with Borussia Dortmund and Germany winger Karim Adeyemi.
Since joining Dortmund in 2022, Adeyemi has developed into one of the Bundesliga’s most exciting players. His blistering pace and knack for scoring goals makes him a nightmare for defenders and has resulted in interest from top clubs around Europe.
A figure of £75 million has been suggested as the price set by the German club if Adeyemi is to leave. The 23-year-old is under contract until 2027 but is hesitating to sign a new contract which has been offered to him by Dortmund. This indicates the forward is interested in a transfer away and top European clubs are ready to pounce if given the chance.
Unfortunately for Utd, Adeyemi would prefer a move to rivals Arsenal rather than Old Trafford. According to the Mirror, the German has made it clear that he would be keen to join Mikel Arteta’s project instead of signing for the Red Devils.
This has come as a huge blow for Utd, who reportedly contacted Adeyemi’s agent, Jorge Mendes, about a potential deal. Now, this means the Reds could be forced to move onto other targets for next summer.
Adeyemi fined for possessing illegal weapons
This transfer news comes at the end of a difficult week for Adeyemi. It was recently revealed that the Dortmund star was charged and fined €450,000 earlier this week for being in possession of two illegal weapons last year, a knuckleduster and a taser. To address and clarify the situation, Adeyemi took to Instagram, where he apologised.
In his public statement, Adeyemi said, “you have probably seen the headlines about me in the last few days. It is not easy for me to talk about this. At the beginning of 2024, out of carelessness and without really thinking about what I was doing, I ordered a so-called ‘mystery box’ on the internet.
“It contained items that are not permitted under weapons legislation. Many months later, the package was delivered and ended up unopened at the police station.
“Nevertheless, it was a huge mistake. One that I am very sorry about, that cost me dearly and that I deeply regret. I know that I am in the public eye and have a role model function. I did not live up to that.
“That is precisely why it hurts me all the more that I acted so recklessly. I have learned more from this than I can put into words. And I promise you that I will avoid such mistakes in the future. Thank you to everyone who still trusts and supports me.”
When asked about the situation, Dortmund manager Niko Kovac confirmed that the club would not punish Adeyemi any further for his actions and that their full focus is now on the Bundesliga. Despite this, the situation raises clear warning signs around the player, who hopefully has a promising future ahead if him.
What does this mean for Utd?
With Adeyemi now seemingly out of the picture, Utd will have to look at other targets to improve the attack of Rúben Amorim‘s side. It was recently confirmed that Benjamin Šeško will miss the next number of weeks due to injury, which has resulted in suggestions of the club making a move for an attacker as early as January. However, Utd tend to do most of their business during the off-season so a major signing this winter feels unlikely.
A number of names have been mentioned around a potential move to Utd but none have been confirmed as concrete. Jean-Phillipe Mateta, a reported target for Utd, is currently in talks to extend his stay at Crystal Palace and Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo looks unlikely to be a serious option for Utd, despite a release clause in his contract being revealed this week.
Last summer, Utd were linked with Aston Villa and England striker Ollie Watkins but at 29 years old, it is unlikely that INEOS would consider a deal. As well as Watkins, many other experienced strikers have been named as potential targets for Utd, which suggests Ruben Amorim is looking for a mature forward who can help Sesko to develop whilst he adjusts to new surroundings.
A move for Karim Adeyemi now looks very unlikely for Utd but it is clear the club is targeting a move for a new forward, so it will be interesting to see where they go from here. Major targets seem to be for the summer, but it is essential that Utd spend in January to give them the best chance of achieving their aims of Champions League qualification.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 14:00 pm (GMT) onðWthe United View YouTube channel.