Manchester United have been handed a massive blow in their pursuit for a top striker this summer, as two of their top targets look likely to stay put at their current clubs.
Since Ruben Amorim’s arrival, Manchester United have suffered serious attacking woes, with neither of their first team strikers showing enough to secure the role of leading the line.
Both Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund failed to impress throughout the 2024/25 campaign, combining for a total of seven Premier League goals.
This lacklustre scoring has been a cause for concern in recent months for Amorim, which has caused United’s higher-ups to take urgent action at the start of the summer transfer window.
Having already secured Matheus Cunha, and looking set to seal the Bryan Mbeumo deal, the Red Devil’s now need to complete their attack with a number nine, which may prove difficult as a couple of their main targets could be set to stay put.
Kolo Muani ‘very happy at Juventus’
United have been linked with a host of strikers since the start of the summer window, with one of the names being 26-year-old Randal Kolo Muani.
The French striker is currently on loan at Juventus from Paris Saint-Germain, and has enjoyed a fruitful spell, scoring eight goals in his 16 Serie A appearances.
After his nation won 2-0 against Germany in the Nations League third-place match, Kolo Muani told L’Equipe, “I’m very happy to have been able to play a little more, whether for the national team or for my club. I’m very happy at Juventus, I hope to continue there. They welcomed me well, and I’m enjoying it. I’m going with them to the Club World Cup.”
This comes as a blow to United who have been monitoring Kolo Muani’s situation recently, with their striker options quickly whittling down before their eyes.
Mateta offered new contract at Palace
To add to their striker woes, Crystal Palace frontman Jean-Philippe Mateta could be set to stay, as recent BBC Sport reports suggest that he is ‘close’ to a contract extension.
The 27-year-old has been one of United’s top striker targets since the start of the window, having scored 30 league goals in his past two seasons.
READ MORE: Manchester United dealt potential blow as “effective” transfer target makes U-turn on summer move
With Liam Delap now at Chelsea, and Victor Osimhen seemingly demanding too hefty of a fee, these new reports leave United’s options looking even more limited, giving Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s team some tricky decisions to make.
Amorim’s former striker Viktor Gyokeres is still available however, which seems to be becoming a more viable option with each passing day of this summer window.
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