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Inside Manchester United’s search for a striker as SEVEN names considered from top Arsenal target to rival Premier League raids
Manchester United are pushing ahead with their pursuit of a new striker this summer. The Red Devils have already spent over £125million ahead of the new season. GettyAmorim is keen to sign a new striker before the transfer window closes[/caption] GettyMatheus Cunha has already been added to the United attack this summer[/caption] Matheus Cunha arrived from Wolves early in the window before Bryan Mbeumo’s long-awaited move was completed on Monday. The pair scored a combined 35 Premier League goals last season. Meanwhile, United’s centre-forwards endured a difficult campaign as both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee struggled for form. As a result, Amorim remains in the market for a new number nine with over a month until the transfer window closes. The club’s recruitment team have considered no less than seven potential targets for the position. It comes after their worst season in Premier League history last term. Manchester United’s striker search Transfer expert Ben Jacobs has lifted the lid on United’s priorities in the market following the arrival of Mbeumo. After Hojlund and Zirkzee’s woes, Amorim plans to add a striker to his side for next season. Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have already splashed out on the position since the end of the previous campaign. Jacobs told Inside Devils: “The combination of Cunha and Mbeumo gives Manchester United confidence that they can score more goals. GettyMbeumo further bolstered the Red Devils’ frontline after completing his move from Brentford[/caption] talkSPORTJacobs has revealed United have considered seven potential No.9 targets[/caption] “They’ve got proven Premier League quality and now they’ll turn their attention to trying to get a No.9 over the line. “Signing a No. 9 is the next priority and outgoings will inform what kind of budget they can generate – getting the Rashford wages off the books even though it’s only a loan to Barcelona. “And Garnacho is the so-called ‘pure profit’ player and you’d think if they can get £50million or £60million for him they will be able to move quite freely in the market.” Marcus Rashford is closing in on a season-long loan move to Barcelona with an option to buy. As for Alejandro Garnacho, who has been told he can leave the club, Aston Villa are understood to have been monitoring his situation. Who are Manchester United targeting? With the Red Devils in the market for a new striker, their recruitment team have already made enquiries regarding potential targets. However, the likes of Hugo Ekitike and Viktor Gyokeres are instead set to move elsewhere in the Premier League. Ekitike is on the verge of joining Liverpool after an agreement was reached with Eintracht Frankfurt. Gyokeres, meanwhile, has been given permission to undergo his Arsenal medical after a fee was finally agreed with Sporting Lisbon. Both players had been considered by United, with Jacobs revealing: “Remember, the Cunha fee is in three payments and only the first two of those are in this financial year, not the last one, so therefore they will still have a little bit of budget. “But they haven’t necessarily got €100million (£87m) to splash out, which is why despite enquiring on Hugo Ekitike earlier in the window they were not able to proceed with that to any serious degree – plus the fact the player only wanted Liverpool. “We’ve had a lot of reports over the last 24 hours about Viktor Gyokeres, and it’s true there is appreciation from Ruben Amorim, but that one is also tough to pull off financially and the player, at the moment, only wants Arsenal. GettyEkitike is closing in on a move to Liverpool after a previous United enquiry[/caption] GettyAmorim will also miss out on the chance to reunite with Arsenal-bound Gyokeres[/caption] “Manchester United sources deny they have a plan to bid, so this was very much a case of Sporting Lisbon offering the player to Man United to create a bit of competitive tension.” Despite missing out on Ekitike and Gyokeres, United are not short of alternative targets. Benjamin Sesko, Nicolas Jackson, Ollie Watkins, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Aleksandar Mitrovic have all been discussed internally. Jacobs continued: “There are a few names that leap out as United discuss internally about their targets. “Benjamin Sesko is the one to watch, for me, simply because the price for Sesko may drop as we get into late July and early August. “By then a lot of clubs looking for strikers will have found one, so there will be less of a bidding war, and Leipzig also know the player wants to leave and 12 months ago Manchester United along with Arsenal and Chelsea made a pitch for Sesko. “So he’s a longstanding target for Man United and now you’ve got Chris Vivell who is the director of recruitment – effectively the No.2 to Jason Wilcox – and he knows Sesko from his own time a
Manchester United are pushing ahead with their pursuit of a new striker this summer.
The Red Devils have already spent over £125million ahead of the new season.
Matheus Cunha arrived from Wolves early in the window before Bryan Mbeumo’s long-awaited move was completed on Monday.
The pair scored a combined 35 Premier League goals last season.
Meanwhile, United’s centre-forwards endured a difficult campaign as both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee struggled for form.
As a result, Amorim remains in the market for a new number nine with over a month until the transfer window closes.
The club’s recruitment team have considered no less than seven potential targets for the position.
It comes after their worst season in Premier League history last term.
Manchester United’s striker search
Transfer expert Ben Jacobs has lifted the lid on United’s priorities in the market following the arrival of Mbeumo.
After Hojlund and Zirkzee’s woes, Amorim plans to add a striker to his side for next season.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have already splashed out on the position since the end of the previous campaign.
Jacobs told Inside Devils: “The combination of Cunha and Mbeumo gives Manchester United confidence that they can score more goals.
“They’ve got proven Premier League quality and now they’ll turn their attention to trying to get a No.9 over the line.
“Signing a No. 9 is the next priority and outgoings will inform what kind of budget they can generate – getting the Rashford wages off the books even though it’s only a loan to Barcelona.
“And Garnacho is the so-called ‘pure profit’ player and you’d think if they can get £50million or £60million for him they will be able to move quite freely in the market.”
Marcus Rashford is closing in on a season-long loan move to Barcelona with an option to buy.
As for Alejandro Garnacho, who has been told he can leave the club, Aston Villa are understood to have been monitoring his situation.
Who are Manchester United targeting?
With the Red Devils in the market for a new striker, their recruitment team have already made enquiries regarding potential targets.
However, the likes of Hugo Ekitike and Viktor Gyokeres are instead set to move elsewhere in the Premier League.
Ekitike is on the verge of joining Liverpool after an agreement was reached with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Gyokeres, meanwhile, has been given permission to undergo his Arsenal medical after a fee was finally agreed with Sporting Lisbon.
Both players had been considered by United, with Jacobs revealing: “Remember, the Cunha fee is in three payments and only the first two of those are in this financial year, not the last one, so therefore they will still have a little bit of budget.
“But they haven’t necessarily got €100million (£87m) to splash out, which is why despite enquiring on Hugo Ekitike earlier in the window they were not able to proceed with that to any serious degree – plus the fact the player only wanted Liverpool.
“We’ve had a lot of reports over the last 24 hours about Viktor Gyokeres, and it’s true there is appreciation from Ruben Amorim, but that one is also tough to pull off financially and the player, at the moment, only wants Arsenal.
“Manchester United sources deny they have a plan to bid, so this was very much a case of Sporting Lisbon offering the player to Man United to create a bit of competitive tension.”
Despite missing out on Ekitike and Gyokeres, United are not short of alternative targets.
Benjamin Sesko, Nicolas Jackson, Ollie Watkins, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Aleksandar Mitrovic have all been discussed internally.
Jacobs continued: “There are a few names that leap out as United discuss internally about their targets.
“Benjamin Sesko is the one to watch, for me, simply because the price for Sesko may drop as we get into late July and early August.
“By then a lot of clubs looking for strikers will have found one, so there will be less of a bidding war, and Leipzig also know the player wants to leave and 12 months ago Manchester United along with Arsenal and Chelsea made a pitch for Sesko.
“So he’s a longstanding target for Man United and now you’ve got Chris Vivell who is the director of recruitment – effectively the No.2 to Jason Wilcox – and he knows Sesko from his own time at the Red Bull group.
“So at the right price that’s a deal Manchester United would like to do, but Arsenal struggled to drive his release clause down, which is over €80million (£69m) and that’s why if Sesko to Manchester United is to develop there may be some patience required.
“There’s a lot of talk about Nicolas Jackson and my understanding there is that at the moment Manchester United have no plans to bid, and that’s partially because Chelsea’s asking price is quite high.
“If that was to change I think Chelsea might have to escalate their own pursuit of Garnacho and then maybe there’s some mutual business to be done, but all signs as of now are that Man United don’t think Jackson is feasible.
“Ollie Watkins could be another name to watch, and then there are other market opportunities like Dominic Calvert-Lewin who is a free agent and has been offered to Man United, although there’s no interest in that at this stage.
“Aleksandar Mitrovic is another name I keep hearing. If Al Hilal sign another striker then they’ll want Mitrovic to leave and there might be a late-window opportunity for a loan with some wage coverage that suits all parties.
“I think it’s a case where if they can’t get some of the targets I’ve already mentioned, Manchester United might look to pivot and see what market opportunities arise later in the window, and Mitrovic might be another name to watch if that happens.”
Hojlund and Zirkzee’s future
United’s desire to sign a new striker casts doubt on the long-term futures of Hojlund and Zirkzee.
The duo currently have three and four years remaining on their contracts, respectively.
However, they mustered just 17 goals between them across all competitions last season.
Zirkzee has also been left out of the squad for the pre-season tour of the USA after missing the friendly against Leeds through injury.
The Dutch forward is more likely to remain at Old Trafford beyond the summer than Hojlund, though, Jacobs adds.
Discussing the pair, he said: “They’re looking to sign a No.9 to either compete with Hojlund and Zirkzee or effectively replace Hojlund – and that’s the most interesting scenario.
“I think Zirkzee is more likely to stay and Hojlund wants to fight for his place.
“But if Man United can find another No.9 courtesy of what they hope will be a flurry of outgoings with Antony and Jadon Sancho set to leave too, then it will be Manchester United perhaps telling Hojlund that they think he should be looking elsewhere.”
Both Antony and Jadon Sancho spent the second half of last season out on loan at Real Betis and Chelsea, respectively.
However, neither side have made their temporary spells permanent this summer.
Man United are yet to complete a senior player sale, meanwhile, with the only exits the releases of Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen alongside Jonny Evans’ retirement.
