Man Utd should drop £60m "active" transfer to beat Liverpool to £35m flyer: opinion
Man Utd are struggling to add firepower to their attack with a player they have already been offered being eyed by Liverpool.
Given the money that Manchester United have spent or are planning to spend on two players, there isn’t much to go around to address the striker issue.
With seven Premier League goals in 64 appearances combined between Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkee last season, there is a pretty obvious problem in the heart of United’s attack. Compare this to the near 40 goals of new signing Matheus Cunha and the imminent arrival of Bryan Mbeumo and improvements should already be seen.
What they need in front of them though is a striker who is equally as happy in a fluid formation and with the same sort of energy. Unfortunately for United, Hugo Ekitike is the subject of an offer from Newcastle United with Liverpool also said to be interest if Eddie Howe refuses to let Alexander Isak go. And so a saga begins.
Jason Wilcox has allocated nearly £130m on Cunha and Mbeumo so needs to box clever elsewhere unless he can move on the five players who have handed in transfer requests. The good news is that Jadon Sancho is closing in on a move to Juventus and Chelsea have spoken to Alejandro Garnacho’s representatives.
Why Man Utd should beat Liverpool to Christopher Nkunku
The Garnacho news makes for interesting reading with Christopher Nkunku having been offered in a swap deal earlier in the window, a deal that never came to fruition but one that now looks a lot more interesting given the France international’s £35m transfer fee. For perspective, United’s valuation of Garnacho is reported to be in the region of £40m.
After a difficult first season through injury, Nkunku made an encouraging return in 2024/25 with 20 goal contributions in 48 appearances, although these came in just over 2,300 minutes. A far cry from his 90 G/A in 119 games for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, but it is still more than Hojlund and Zirkee combined.
A swap deal for Garnacho would still be a good one, however, at £35m United have a potential bargain on their doorstep with Liverpool now entertaining a move given the 27-year old’s versatility and experience. Nkunku could be a perfect fit for Amorim given his pace, energy and ability to operate either behind a central striker or through the middle on his own.
What has Enzo Maresca said about Nkunku leaving Chelsea?
What is encouraging, is that despite Chelsea signing Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens, Enzo Maresca still gave Nkunku game time at the Club World Cup which suggests that he isn’t the sort of player that goes in the huff when he knows his team maybe doesn’t want him any more.
As Maresca said during the tournament though, just because Nkunku was part of the Club World Cup squad, it doesn’t mean that they won’t listen to offers: “If Christo [Nkunku] is here with us, it is because we think he can help us and he can be with us even next season. But as you said, there are many speculations, not just about Christo, about many players.
“And then if something is going to happen, I don't know because we said many times when the transfer window is open, anything can happen in terms of players that can arrive or players that can leave.”
The writing is on the wall for Nkunku and United could have a Premier League ready striker on their hands for just £35m, a player with a great attitude and one who is determined to prove a point. If they don’t sign him, someone else will.