Rúben Amorim hopes that his Manchester United side will be able to improve on their 44-goal tally in the Premier League next season.
Manchester United are preparing to overhaul their attacking options this summer after a disappointing 2024/25 campaign that saw them finish 15th in the Premier League, with a lack of goals at the heart of their struggles.
Bruno Fernandes was the team’s top scorer with 19 goals, while just three other players managed to hit double figures across all competitions.
In a bid to fix their goalscoring problems, United have brought in wingers Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, who combined for 35 Premier League goals last season.
With those signings completed, Rúben Amorim’s side are now focused on securing a new striker to spearhead their attack.
United are not looking at a high-profile striker yet
According to reports this week, although United have held exploratory talks surrounding the likes of Benjamin Šeško, Ollie Watkins, and Nicolas Jackson, these three options are now not being pursued due to the financial considerations involved in any of the respective deals.
Instead, the club are said to now be looking at alternative targets, with recent links to Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo-Muani emerging amid interest from Newcastle.
The French international is reportedly available for around £35 million this summer after his six-month loan move to Juventus ended last month.
However, United are also focused on selling some key outcast assets, such as Antony and Alejandro Garnacho, as they are keen on bringing in a goalkeeper and midfielder, which could delay any move for a striker.
Amorim also has £130m striker option available for free
Despite United’s apparent desire to secure a new natural centre-forward this summer, there is another route Amorim could take if funds do not allow for a new first-choice player to enter the squad.
United have committed to spending a little over £130 million on signing Cunha and Mbeumo this summer. However, the latter’s fee is split into a £65 million guaranteed payment and a further £6 million in performance- and success-related add-ons.
While both players have been explicitly signed to play on the left and right of the striker in Amorim’s system, there is a strong argument that either player could play in the striker’s position themselves.
At Wolverhampton Wanderers, Cunha played 40 times as their main centre-forward, with a further 39 appearances as either a second striker or attacking midfielder, showing that he is proficient playing down the middle as well as out wide.
As for Mbeumo, he spent much of last season playing in a striker partnership alongside Yoane Wissa, amassing 65 appearances as either a centre-forward or second striker. Much like Cunha, Mbeumo is perfectly capable of operating down the middle.
Although it remains a possibility amid interest from Serie A sides, if United do not sell Rasmus Højlund this summer and instead commit the remaining funds to a new goalkeeper and a high-quality defensive midfielder, Amorim may be able to forgo buying another striker this summer and have his new attacking duo share the goalscoring responsibility up front.
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt.
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