After the heartbreak of the FA Cup final, Manchester United know that they are certainly still a way off Manchester City, who could be about to emulate the greatest achievement in United’s recent history. However, Erik ten Hag and his backroom staff will be working as hard as ever to ensure that they are competing on all fronts next season to rival City as much as they can.
One way of doing this would be to have a more reliable and more recognized striker on the team. With the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo earlier this year, Anthony Martial usually injured, and Wout Weghorst not up to the job, ten Hag will be making a striker his number one priority this summer.
Who does Manchester United go for?
There have been many names, as per usual, that have been banded around, with the main focus being on Harry Kane. However, even with one year on his contract, he could still cost in excess of £100 million, and with Real Madrid sniffing around, United may miss out on their number one target.
It looks likely Manchester United will not entertain Tottenham, though, with their price tag way more than expected for a player with a contract expiring in 2024.
Serie A – the answer?
There has been one other player heavily linked with Old Trafford: Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian striker is a younger option to Kane and one that many fans would like to see, but again he would not come cheap, with Napoli reportedly wanting up to £150 million for their star striker.
This has led the United scouts to look at another Serie A star in 20-year-old Rasmus Højlund. The Danish striker, perhaps tongue in cheek, has been compared to that of Erling Haaland in terms of finishing. Atalanta might be willing to play ball with Manchester United over a transfer.
Højlund only joined Atalanta last summer and has got a price tag of £40 million on his head. With Manchester United in a situation regarding the ownership of the club, it will be unlikely that they have a war chest to spend.
With nine goals in Serie A this season and three in the Austrian Bundesliga, he has an eye for goal that could be channelled even more when the likes of Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes are supplying him.
It would be an exciting option for United to take and one that ten Hag is reportedly keen to take.