Surprise Man Utd and Chelsea swap deal could boost Red Devils' attack and get rid of rebel: opinion
Man Utd need a striker and Chelsea are trying to get rid of one which opens the door for an obvious swap deal.
Manchester United were never blessed with a big transfer budget to rebuild the squad this summer and it was always going to take more than one window.
Whether or not Ruben Amorim is given that time is another story with the signing of Matheus Cunha not enough to transform his team into a successful one overnight. The small print on a deal for Bryan Mbeumo is said to be closer to an agreement, but there are still big holes elsewhere.
The obvious one is at No.9, having been spoilt with some of the finest in the game in recent times, the current crop wouldn’t be good enough to get on the bench in most United line-ups, however, finances dictate that an Alexander Isak or Kylian Mbappe are out of reach.
Swap deal Man Utd could offer to get rid of Alejandro Garnacho
The strikers that have been linked all seem closer to other clubs, but there are cut price options like the £35m price-tag on Christopher Nkunu’s head or the £55m that German wonderkid Nick Woltemade is said to be available for. Nkunku has been the subject of a swap offer with Alejandro Garnacho and for all that it didn’t go any further than an idea, maybe they were on the right tracks.
Garnacho has been in talks with Chelsea, they are at the early stages although there is enough encouragement, enough smoke, to suggest that something might be possible. With United needing a striker and the Club World Cup winners looking to move one of theirs on, there is an obvious solution.
The Old Trafford outfit have been linked with Nicolas Jackson who, after the signing of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, appears to be down the pecking order under Enzo Maresca. Despite his reputation as being wasteful, there is a player there and one who has better numbers than any striker currently wearing red.
Jackson posted 15 goal contributions in 30 games last season, 10 goals and five assists, with the previous campaign boasting 14 goals and five assists in 35 games. With Cunha, Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes behind him, he could easily improve these numbers and everybody would be happy.
Nicolas Jackson shows why he could be a success at Man Utd
Jackson, speaking last summer to Chelsea, has also shown the sort of attitude that Amorim needs in his squad. Aware that he has yet to show what he is truly capable of, he isn’t afraid of hard work or to recognise what he needs to work on: ‘The first season for any player or any striker that comes to Chelsea is not easy, but I did okay,’ he says.
‘I am not very happy with 17 goals because I played the whole season without injuries, but it’s okay. I did good, now I hope to continue and do amazing. I am still in the learning process, learning every day, and trying to improve what I can do, and work on what I cannot do.
‘It was not hard to adapt to the club because I could speak English and I’m a social person,’ he adds. ‘It was easy to talk to everybody and get to know people. The only problem was the weather, but I got used to it!
‘On the pitch I’m friends with everybody. It will always be like that. I hope this year together we will do more than last year and win something.’
Despite his reputation, Jackson was still a key player in winning both a European trophy and the Club World Cup, another quality that United could do with, a player who is a winner.