United will be looking to add a striker to their roster this summer, according to Erik ten Hag, since Anthony Martial’s contract is up.
After the Frenchman leaves, United will only have Rasmus Hojlund as a natural centre forward, so they will need a substitute. Even if he hasn’t been very well when asked, Marcus Rashford can play up front if required.
After arriving at Old Trafford as a central striker, Amad has been transformed into a right-sided winger. He hasn’t seen much action since recovering from a long-term injury in January, and he may decide to leave this summer regardless.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has to balance the Premier League Profit & Sustainability Rules, and United already spent £72 million on Fredrik Hojlund last summer, so it’s doubtful that they would waste money on another attacker.
Other positions, including centre back and midfield, need more reinforcement, but it’s more probable that a Hojlund backup act will be obtained. In his initial performance, Ratcliffe may have to demonstrate his astute commercial savvy.
The allure of Guirassy makes him the most probable target on the list. He has been instrumental in Stuttgart’s push for Champions League qualifying, scoring 26 goals in 23 appearances so far this season.
The attacker is said to have a £15 million release clause in his contract, so it’s no surprise that United reportedly expressed interest in January. Even Guirassy has been forthright about wanting to leave for England.
“I cannot hide these things – everyone knows the Premier League is one of the most competitive leagues in the world,” he said in November. But right now I’m not closing any doors. Besides the Premier League, there are a number of other major European leagues.
The Guinean actress, who celebrated her 28th birthday last month, will attract even more attention as a result of her remarks. Without playing in the Champions League, United will be at a disadvantage in negotiations and might face stiff competition.
Jonathan David
David is having a productive season with Lille, scoring 23 goals in 40 appearances and finishing second in Ligue 1 in goals scored. He is second only to Kylian Mbappe. The Canadian international may still be in the early stages of his career as he does not turn 25 until January of next year.
United could be taking a risk if they can negotiate a transfer fee for the attacker around £40 million, even if Lille is reportedly asking for approximately £50 million. The player is about to reach the last year of his contract.
One advantage of this arrangement is that David would be more likely to compete with Hojlund for a position rather than accept a secondary one. The problem may arise with Arsenal, who have been associated with David and might provide him with more playing time; however, Mikel Arteta is said to be favouring a more adaptable striker.
Lois Broderick
The Belgian international Openda has been RB Leipzig’s shining star this year, contributing to the team’s success with 25 goals in 39 appearances (all competitions combined). He is not afraid to play in a major game, as he has scored this season against Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Bayer Leverkusen.
Being a top player is my goal. During an interview with The Athletic in January, he expressed his desire to play for the top clubs globally. Hopefully, United will find this encouraging.
What matters is his present physical appearance. Given his skinny build, the 24-year-old’s durability in the physically demanding Premier League might be called into doubt. His blistering speed was on full display against Man City, and he has yet to suffer an injury this season.
Though he is under contract until 2028, Openda is not going anywhere, and he has no intention of playing a supporting role in the future. Compared to Hojlund, he is three years older and has more experience playing in the Champions League. Some persuading would have to happen.
Dominic Solanke
A potential Solanke approach has several points to be made. The player may be wary about joining United after playing for Liverpool in the past, but no player in his situation would be foolish to turn down a transfer.
Additionally, recency bias might be a problem. He has never ever scored more than ten goals in a Premier League season, but his 16 goals in 31 games is quite respectable.
Should similar statistics be anticipated from a striker who would be used in a rotating capacity? Is he even interested in filling in as a fill-in? Solanke, at 26 years old, may not want to play second fiddle at a club.
Nonetheless, United are in need of a second striker, and they have certainly bought players from Liverpool in the past. While Solanke isn’t exactly rocketing to the top of the list, his around £30 million price tag makes him a viable fallback if all else fails. The assaulter may give in to the intensity of Old Trafford’s lights in the end.
Pavel Vangelis
The Greek striker Pavlidis is more of a gambler’s choice. He is now the league’s leading scorer in the Eredivisie with 25 goals in 29 league games played for AZ Alkmaar this season.
Among these candidates, the 25-year-old would be the most flexible in terms of his willingness to play backup. With his strong physique and natural goal-scoring ability, the ex-Borussia Dortmund II forward is ideal for hold-up play.
United supporters have every right to be worried about the performance of the players that Ten Hag brought over from the Netherlands to Manchester, since they have all been unsuccessful in the Premier League.
Pavlidis, on the other hand, has scored over 20 goals in each of the last three seasons and might be available for very little money with a little over a year remaining on his deal. Consideration warranted.
Other Mention Striker on Raid
Although rumours of a transfer to United have circulated, in November, Brighton signed Evan Ferguson to a massive contract extension that would keep him with the club until 2029. A release clause reportedly worth £100 million has been included, which is far more than United can afford.
Even though Leverkusen’s top striker Victor Boniface has scored 17 goals so far this season, he is unlikely to choose a club outside of the Champions League since his team is about to win the Bundesliga championship. The future of Xabi Alonso is also highly dependent on his choice to remain.
Arsenal is expected to sell Eddie Nketiah this summer. Amazing ability, no doubt about it. But would he be willing to play second fiddle at Old Trafford instead of the Emirates? I really doubt it. He needs consistent playing time, something United cannot provide, since he turns 25 this summer.
With 16 goals this season for Girona, Artem Dovbyk leads La Liga in scoring. If his club weren’t owned by the same people that own Man City, United would be pursuing him in droves. Given this background, a deal to United seems quite unlikely.