Ruben Amorim’s “ideal” Manchester United striker must have one key attribute, INEOS have controversial transfer rule

Ruben Amorim wants to sign a striker for his Manchester United squad in the summer window as his current options continue to underperform.

Manchester United have struggled to find the net this season, managing only 28 goals in 24 Premier League matches.

Their strikers are out of form, with Rasmus Højlund last scoring in early December against Viktoria Plzen.

Since then, the Danish forward has gone 14 games without a goal, while Joshua Zirkzee’s strike against Leicester City was his first in 12 appearances.

It has come to no one’s surprise that various reports are claiming that the club plan to spend money on a new striker in the next summer transfer window.

Amorim’s ideal United striker must have key attribute

The Athletic has explained that it has been communicated that Amorim’s ideal striker is one who offers repeated runs in behind the opposition’s defence.

Interestingly, Højlund does offer this trait and it is often when the out-of-form striker is at his best at Old Trafford.

The report shows a breakdown of the Danish forward’s runs and it says that 35 per cent were classed as runs in behind the opposition defence.

In comparison, Zirkzee only offers those kind of runs 14 per cent of the time. The Dutchman has started only six games for Amorim since his arrival despite arguably being in better form that Højlund in that time.

Of course, the best solution is for the club to sign a forward who offers this in-behind threat that Amorim desires but also guarantees consistent goals at the highest level.

INEOS have controversial transfer rule at United

However, with United searching for their ideal candidate for this position, it appears that INEOS have one controversial rule.

It was explained in the aforementioned article when Viktor Gyokeres’ name was brought up. The Swede has been linked with a reunion with Amorim.

Gyokeres became one of Europe’s most threatening goalscorers under the Portuguese manager at Sporting – this season, he averages 44 per cent of runs in behind the opposition’s defence.

Yet it was claimed that a move this summer is unlikely as the player, who is likely to be available for £58 million, wants to play Champions League football next season and more appealing options are set to enter the bidding for his signature.

Interestingly, it was also added that United would be reluctant to commit that type of money to a player turning 27 in June, with the strategy of investing in younger signings.

Three of United’s summer signings – Zirkzee, Leny Yoro and Manuel Ugarte – were 23 years old or younger when they joined the club. Meanwhile, Matthijs de Ligt celebrated his 25th birthday the day before he put pen to paper on a long-term contract.

Noussair Mazraoui is the only player closer to his ‘prime years’ as he signed for the club at the age of 26 (and has since turned 27), but he was a low-cost addition at around £12 million.

The problem many would argue is that strikers are often late bloomers and can only guarantee goals when they’ve been around the scene for a while. Højlund and Zirkzee are live examples of that in front of INEOS’ eyes.

A youth-first approach is something that no United fan would complain about if it was worked well, but even the Class of 92 had extreme experience alongside them in the dressing room under Sir Alex Ferguson. That experience cannot be underestimated.

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