da bwin： Manchester United owners INEOS are now prepared to sanction a big-money move to sign an “unstoppable” forward, who could cost around £83m this summer, according to a report.

New forwards needed at Old Trafford

da betobet： Ruben Amorim commenced the process of reshaping the squad he inherited in January, with the likes of Marcus Rashford and Antony being shown the exit door, albeit only on loan to begin with.

However, Man United didn’t bring in any replacements for the two wide forwards, and there is a feeling Amorim could be keen on strengthening his entire forward line, given that strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have struggled in front of goal.

In terms of out-and-out strikers, the Red Devils have been linked with the likes of Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres, with Amorim well-aware of the latter’s ability, given the time he spent working with him at Sporting CP.

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With Rashford and Antony seemingly likely to depart on a permanent basis this summer, Man United are also eyeing new wide players, and a report from Spain has now revealed they want to sign AC Milan’s Rafael Leao.

Leao is set to be put up for sale for a fee of around €100m (£83m) in the summer, and the 20-time English champions have joined the race for his signature, following Amorim’s request of a new top-level left-winger.

INEOS are prepared to listen to the 40-year-old’s demands and spend big in the summer transfer window, but there may be competition for the Portuguese winger’s signature, with Manchester City and Al-Hilal also being named as potential suitors.

Man Utd’s upcoming fixtures

Date

Ipswich Town (h)

February 26th

Fulham (h)

March 2nd

Real Sociedad (a)

March 6th

Arsenal (h)

March 9th

Real Sociedad (h)

March 13th

"Unstoppable" Leao could be a huge upgrade in attack

Alejandro Garnacho has received regular game time since Rashford’s departure, but it would be fair to say the 20-year-old has been largely ineffective, failing to register a goal or assist in his last 14 Premier League outings.

Garnacho received interest from Chelsea and Napoli during the January transfer window, and there have been suggestions the youngster could move on this summer, with United targeting Matheus Cunha as a potential replacement.

However, there are indications Leao could be more of a like-for-like replacement, given that he specialises at left-wing, having picked up 57 goals and 46 assists in 190 appearances from that area of the pitch throughout his career.

The 25-year-old has been lauded as “unstoppable” in the past, and he has continued to display a keen eye for goal this season, scoring three times for Milan in the Champions League.

Given Zirkzee and Hojlund’s struggles, United need to bring in forwards who guarantee goals in the summer, and Leao certainly fits the bill in that regard, so it is promising news that a summer move could be on the cards.

da marjack bet： As they look to finally solve their defensive issues, Manchester United are reportedly in pole position to sign a La Liga star who could hand Ruben Amorim an instant improvement.

Man Utd transfer news

da dobrowin： Sat in the depths of mid-table, rapidly losing money and continuing to struggle under Amorim, Manchester United desperately need reinforcements when the summer arrives. However, just how feasible those arrivals are remains to be seen, as they simply must sell before they can even consider turning towards further additions.

On that front, the rumours are already coming thick and fast, with names such as Jules Kounde threatening to steal the headlines in recent weeks. That said, the Barcelona man may not be the only La Liga defender on his way.

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are now leading the race to sign Alejandro Balde ahead of their as-yet-unnamed Premier League rivals. The Barcelona defender has enjoyed an impressive season in and out of Hansi Flick’s strongest side and could now emerge to solve Amorim’s full-back problems.

In place of Luke Shaw, the young Spaniard would offer those at Old Trafford an instant upgrade. Whether the Red Devils can afford his signature is, of course, another question entirely.

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One way or another, the England international must be replaced when the summer arrives. His injury issues have become increasingly disruptive to the point of no return and as Manchester United continue to struggle financially, they should cut their losses.

One of many tasks that INEOS must complete in the coming months is that they must raise key funds.

"Real gem" Balde would be instant upgrade

Despite welcoming Dorgu in the January transfer window, Manchester United would be wise to pursue Balde and take advantage of their recent arrival’s versatility at the start of next season. Killing two birds with one stone as a result, Amorim could finally turn his tenure around at Old Trafford.

The Barcelona man has been at the centre of impressive praise since breaking through in Spain, including from Jacek Kulig. The football talent scout described the full-back as a “real gem” last summer after he reached six assists in La Liga.

Swapping Barcelona for Manchester United would certainly be a bold choice this summer, but if the Red Devils come calling the left-back will have quite the decision to make. A starting role would certainly be waiting for Balde at Old Trafford under Amorim.

da betsson： Arsenal might have broken the record for the most goals scored in an away knockout Champions League game on Tuesday, but ask their fans what they need, and most will still say a striker.

da betano casino： The Gunners failed to bring one in last summer and, despite losing Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus before it slammed shut, did so again in the winter window.

This need for another goalscoring forward has only been made more acute by further injuries to Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz.

Worse still, one of the club’s promising youngsters, Mika Biereth, was sold for next to nothing in the summer and is now scoring for fun in Ligue 1, and there is a chance that the club might have already repeated a similar mistake with another forward.

Why selling Biereth was a big mistake by Arsenal

So, it should be said that hindsight is a wonderful thing, and it’s easy to say that Arsenal’s decision to sell Biereth for £4m plus a sell-on clause in the summer was the wrong decision, but even at the time, it didn’t look like a great deal.

For example, across two loan spells last season with Motherwell and Sturm Graz, the Danish poacher racked up an impressive haul of 15 goals and nine assists in just 37 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.54 games.

He’s done even better this year, as in 35 games for Sturm Graz and AS Monaco, the 22-year-old has scored 24 goals and provided seven assists, which works out to a goal involvement every 1.12 games.

On top of having the raw output, the London-born marksman’s underlying numbers are also excellent.

According to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, for non-penalty goals plus assists, actual non-penalty goals, goals per shot and shot on target, average shot distance and more, all per 90.

Biereth’s FBref scout report

Statistic

Per 90

Percentile

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.86

Top 1%

Actual Non-Penalty Goals

0.89

Top 1%

Goals per Shot

0.34

Top 1%

Goals per Shot on Target

0.69

Top 1%

Average Shot Distance

10.40

Top 1%

Goals

0.97

Top 2%

Interceptions

0.41

Top 5%

Penalties Won

0.08

Top 13%

All Stats via FBref

In short, while it might have seemed like a decent fee for someone who hadn’t played for the first team at the time, it now looks like a massive underpay for a youngster who could be a superstar in the making, and it would appear as if a similar mistake was made last year regarding another promising forward.

Arsenal's Biereth repeat

Arsenal have let many young stars leave too early in the past, from Michael Olise to Eberechi Eze and even Harry Kane.

Arteta and Co will be hoping that Chido Obi-Martin is not the latest youngster to leave the club and become a world-class international, but as things stand, that feels like a distinct possibility.

Now, it should be said that while it was a mistake to happily sell Biereth to Sturm Graz, the club actually reportedly tried to keep Obi-Martin on the books but were unable to do so.

Therefore, it’s not the same mistake in the sense that they got rid of him, but it was perhaps a mistake that they weren’t able to prove staying at Hale End was the best for his development. Why? Well, the youngster’s record in junior football is simply staggering.

For example, in just 24 appearances last season, totalling 1616 minutes, the “goalscoring machine,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, put the ball in the back of the net 32 times and provided three assists for good measure.

Chido-Obi’s 23/24

Appearances

24

Minutes

1616′

Goals

32

Assists

3

Goal Involvements per Match

1.45

Minutes per Goal Involvement

46.05′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

That means he averaged 1.45 goal involvements per game or one every 46.17 minutes.

Having moved away for a small compensation fee, he’s also scoring for fun at Carrington this season, racking up a tally of 12 goals and two assists in 12 appearances for the Red Devils’ youth sides.

Moreover, he’s now made three first-team appearances, and while he’s yet to score, he’s looked lively in them.

That was particularly the case against Fulham in the FA Cup last weekend where Obi fashioned a number of chances for himself, notably being denied late on courtesy of a wonderful save by ex-Gunner Bernd Leno.

Ultimately, Arsenal have been blessed with some incredible youth players in recent years, but given their dire need for more goalscorers, we can’t help but think selling Biereth and not being able to keep hold of Obi-Martin could come back to haunt them in a big way.

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da mrbet： A first team Sunderland player on higher wages than the likes of Trai Hume and Dan Neil is in talks to leave the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland suffer automatic promotion blow with defeats to Hull and Leeds

da luck： The Black Cats have impressed on the whole during Regis Le Bris’ first season in charge of the club, and at the very least, look set for a place in the Championship playoffs.

Sunderland have been pushing for a top-two finish in the second tier, but back-to-back defeats to Leeds United and Hull City put a significant dent in those hopes.

Speaking before Friday’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday, Le Bris stated his squad are “really positive” and “very engaged” ahead of the run-in.

“The atmosphere after the Hull game was really positive – not that we enjoyed defeat, but we managed the situation properly. The three sessions this week have been intense. The output wasn’t always perfect, but the behaviour and commitment were very positive.

“The squad is very engaged in the process, and we know this league is always tough – we will have highs and lows, but the main thing is the consistency. We can’t be too emotional, positive or negative. If we want to play at the best level, we will face many obstacles.”

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One player who hasn’t contributed to the Championship season is Jewison Bennette, who has played just nine senior minutes under Le Bris in an EFL Cup defeat to Preston North End back in August.

He has been linked with a move to Ukrainian side FC LNZ Cherkasy, with the transfer window closing on March 11th.

Jewison Bennette set to leave Sunderland with talks over exit underway

Talking in the last 48 hours, relayed by The Northern Echo, Le Bris admitted that Sunderland attacker Bennette is in talks to leave the club. He is currently on £5,000-a-week, more than Hume, Neil and Chris Rigg, but is set to depart in search of more game time.

“Yes [he is in talks to leave], but I don’t know exactly what stage the deal is at. He needs to play.”

Bennette’s Sunderland stats

Appearances

21

Goals

2

Assists

2

The 20-year-old, who is a Costa Rica international, was praised by academy coach Graeme Murty last year after a Premier League International Cup game where the winger had two goals ruled out for offside.

“He’s great to work with. He’s never complaining. He’s always open to listen. He’s really disappointed that both goals were ruled off, because they could have been the critical moments in the game.

“We came out on the wrong side of them, but he had to keep going and he had to then restart himself, and actually get himself back into the game… Hats off to him because it’s not easy, but he can be really, really happy with his day’s work.”

It looks as if a move away for the winger will be one to watch for Bennette, and it’ll be interesting to see whether it is on loan or permanent, with his Stadium of Light contract expiring in 2026.

da apostebet： In what could see them get one over on Manchester United, Newcastle United are now reportedly ahead of the Red Devils in the race to sign an attacking addition who silenced St James’ Park earlier this season.

Newcastle transfer news

da bet vitoria： Having battled PSR constraints in the last two windows, rumours suggest that Newcastle could be ready to spend big again at long last. The Magpies have been linked with moves for the likes of Hugo Ekitike and Tammy Abraham in recent weeks, as those in Tyneside look to reinforce Eddie Howe’s attacking options once and for all.

The former Bournemouth boss has been forced to make do with what he’s got throughout the current campaign, even as injuries have piled up once again. Now, when the summer arrives, he could finally welcome the reinforcements that he has so desperately needed to maintain a push for Champions League qualification.

Whether their spending comes with a sacrifice remains to be seen, however. There certainly won’t be a lack of suitors for Alexander Isak this summer and his sale, which could yet reach the £150m mark, would undoubtedly unleash PIF’s impressive spending power.

It’s then that the Magpies could turn towards a player who has already impressed at St James’ Park, taking advantage of the edge that they have over Manchester United in pursuit of his signature.

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According to Chronicle Live, Newcastle now lead Manchester United in the race to sign Justin Kluivert from Bournemouth, who value their forward at just £25m this summer, with the Dutchman reportedly a fan of their project.-

The son of former Newcastle man Patrick Kluivert, the 25-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season on the South Coast and even has two hat-tricks to his name – including one at St James’ Park. Taking home the match ball in a stunning 4-1 victory, Newcastle’s interest in his signature should come as little surprise.

"Amazing" Kluivert has finally found best form

For some time, the jury was still out on Kluivert, who had big shoes to fill thanks to his father’s legacy. A permanent move from Ajax to AS Roma never truly looked like working out and the loan moves which followed to the likes of Valencia, OGC Nice and RB Leipzig also failed to hit the heights.

For a moment, Kluivert was on course to miss out on what many believed to be a destined journey to the top. And then came Bournemouth. On paper, a player who struggled in the Serie A and Bundesliga always seemed unlikely to star in the Premier League, but Kluivert has done just that in his second season – scoring 13 goals in all competitions.

With two match balls to his name already, the Dutchman has 10 more league games to add to his tally and earn even more impressive praise in a season that could simply be the beginning of a star finally realising his potential.

Praised for his goalscoring exploits in a 5-1 thrashing of Nottingham Forest, with Andoni Iraola even describing his disallowed effort as “amazing”, Kluivert is certainly one to watch.

da lvbet： Arsenal are now keen on signing a record-breaking wonderkid, who has been left impressed by Mikel Arteta’s project, but there could be competition for his services from Real Madrid and Barcelona, according to a report.

Gunners looking to strengthen in multiple areas

da doce： The Gunners have set their sights on targets in a number of key areas ahead of the summer transfer window, but it appears as though signing a new striker could be the first port of call for Arteta, given the widespread links to some top forwards.

Alexander Isak’s stock is likely to have risen once again after scoring for Newcastle United in the EFL Cup final yesterday, helping the Magpies end their 70-year trophy drought with a 2-1 victory over Liverpool, and Arteta remains keen on the Sweden international.

In the same report it is detailed that Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez is also now emerging as a surprise option, while targets in other positions include Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia and Real Sociedad central midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

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Arteta is already relatively well-stocked at left-back, with Myles Lewis-Skelly and Oleksandr Zinchenko to choose from, but it appears as though the manager could be keen on bringing in a long-term replacement for the latter player.

That is according to a report from Football Transfers, which states Arsenal are now seriously considering a move for Dinamo Tbilisi left-back Saba Kharebashvili, having already made an enquiry about the possibility of a deal.

Arteta is eventually planning to move Lewis-Skelly back into midfield, meaning Kharebashvili could slot in at left-back, although it is unlikely to be any time soon, given that he is just 16 years old and unable to move to the Emirates Stadium until 2027.

A transfer could still be agreed in the summer, however, the Gunners may face fierce competition for the youngster’s signature, given that Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona have also been linked with a move, alongside Liverpool.

"Phenomenon" Kharebashvili is one for the future

The teenager is unable to complete a move to north London in the near future, but there are indications he could be a fantastic long-term addition to the squad, given that he has already started to break records.

The report states the Dinamo Tbilisi starlet became the youngest player to feature in a UEFA club competition last season, doing so at just 15-years-old, while he has also received high praise from football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who described him as a “phenomenon.”

Having also been described as a “leader” of the Georgia U17 team, which he captains, there are plenty of indications the starlet could have the requisite qualities to be a success in the Premier League.

As such, Arsenal will be hoping they can beat Barcelona and Real Madrid to the Georgian’s signature, and the fact he is impressed by Arteta’s project could potentially give them the edge in negotiations.

da betsson： Manchester City officials have now held a transfer meeting with the father of a “special” player, according to a new report.

Man City planning midfield overhaul

da dobrowin： The Blues were very busy in January with many new players arriving at the Etihad, but despite that, it is expected that City will be rather active again in the summer transfer window. Pep Guardiola’s focus could be on his midfield, as the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Mateo Kovacic are being linked with moves away.

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City’s midfield is indeed ageing, so it makes sense for the Blues to freshen it up and bring more energy into the middle of the park. There have been several midfielders linked with a move to the Etihad, with Florian Plettenberg reporting that City have Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga on their transfer list ahead of the summer. The Blues are keeping a close eye on him, but the Frenchman has yet to decide his long-term future.

Meanwhile, TEAMtalk are reporting that City are looking to make an offer to sign Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan. It was originally stated that the Premier League champions would want to pay £42 million to secure his transfer, but it is now believed they are willing to go further and pay £50 million.

The midfield links don’t stop there, as Florian Wirtz remains a player City want, but may have to pay over £100 million to get the deal completed.

Man City hold meeting with the father of Real Madrid star Rodrygo

Camavinga is not the only Real Madrid player to be on City’s radar heading into the summer, as according to a report from Spain, Man City have held talks with Rodrygo’s father over a possible move to the Etihad.

The report claims that the meeting between representatives was held in the last two or three weeks. During the discussions, City made two offers to the Brazilian’s father, one being his son would receive a huge wage increase should he move to Manchester.

The second offer was that they would grant Rodrygo the freedom to play on the left-hand side of their attack, which is impossible for him to do now at Madrid, given the presence of Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé.

It is not stated whether City are now willing to make an offer to Madrid for the attacker or if Rodrygo has decided to leave the European champions, but the Blues and Pep are obviously keen on a potential deal if they think it can happen.

Rodrygo’s Real Madrid stats

Apps

258

Goals

68

Assists

45

The 24-year-old is contracted to Real Madrid until the summer of 2028, and it is believed it could take as much as £100 million to sign the player, as that is how much Liverpool are also willing to pay as they eye a replacement for Mo Salah. Rodrygo may be in the shadow of Vinicius and Mbappé, but Carlo Ancelotti is still a fan of the Brazilian, as he dubbed him a “special striker”.

“He is a special striker; he can play in all positions. He is fast, smart and effective one on one. The learning is over. He is a Real Madrid player for all purposes.”

da dobrowin： Everton have a huge summer up ahead, with David Moyes given the keys to the transfer chest as he looks to remould the Toffees squad to his own design.

da premier bet： After losing his first match back at the helm against Aston Villa in January, the distinguished Scotsman has restored the feel-good factor at Goodison Park, stretching an unbeaten streak to nine Premier League matches as the Merseyside derby at Anfield now looms large.

While the Blues are riding the crest of a wave at the moment, there’s little question that Everton need to fortify their ranks considerably if they are to compete at a higher level, having languished in the lower fathoms of the top flight over these past few years.

It’s been reported that new owners, The Friedkin Group, are willing to give him increased transfer powers as he fills Bramley Moore with exciting new parts.

However, outgoings are also possible, with Jarrad Branthwaite’s Everton future a hot topic of discussion once again.

Jarrad Branthwaite's Everton future

Branthwaite is into his second season as a first-team regular at Everton, previously completing a loan stint at PSV Eindhoven. Last term, talent scout Jacek Kulig described the 22-year-old as an “absolute monster.”

Framed at 6 foot 5 and with a strong-sinewed, no-nonsense style, Branthwaite is a real catch, and it was no surprise that Manchester United were warded off last summer.

Lodging a series of bids, the Red Devils were eventually deterred by Farhad Moshiri, who was resolute in his £75m demands. This is quite the figure, but Branthwaite has proved his worth over the past few years.

Jarrad Branthwaite in the Premier League

Stats (* per game)

23/24

24/25

Matches (starts)

35 (35)

22 (20)

Goals

3

0

Assists

0

1

Clean sheets

12

7

Touches*

52.2

50.5

Pass completion

80%

82%

Dribble success

71%

75%

Ball recoveries*

5.2

3.1

Tackles + interceptions*

3.3

2.4

Clearances*

4.5

6.3

Duels (won)*

5.3 (68%)

3.5 (63%)

Stats via Sofascore

Of course, intrigue in the centre-half isn’t just going to disappear, and after being overlooked for Thomas Tuchel’s March England squad, he has been reported by Sky Sports to be considering his options.

Moyes will need to make some signings this summer to convince his defensive star to stay put as his second Everton era is staged. There’s one man in particular who has caught the eye of late and could be a wonderful addition.

Everton chasing new centre-back

Branthwaite has a strong partner in James Tarkowski, who is acting captain as the ageing Seamus Coleman makes only sporadic appearances.

But with Michael Keane set to depart when his contract expires in three months, it’s important that a talented new option is welcomed through the Bramley Moore gates.

Genoa’s Koni De Winter might be that man. As per Football Insider, the Belgian defender has been on Everton’s radar for a while and they have been informed that a £25m bid will be accepted this summer.

De Winter, 22, is also attracting attention from Wolves and Serie A leaders Inter Milan, but Everton will hope that Moyes’ pedigree and the chance to work alongside another rising star in Branthwaite could sway negotiations in the Blues’ favour.

What Koni De Winter would bring to Bramley Moore

Though it seems unlikely that Branthwaite will retire having devoted the span of his top-flight career to Everton, there’s no reason why he can’t be kept on the books for a few seasons more.

The England international will, however, want to receive bang for his own buck, and thus Moyes and incoming Director of Football Angus Kinnear will need to add players such as De Winter to the fold so that competing for a place in Europe becomes not so much a dream as a goal.

Having left Juventus’ ranks to join Genoa for €10m (roughly £8m) last summer after spending the 2023/24 season on loan at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium, De Winter has made steady progress, featuring 50 times in total.

This season alone, the 6 foot 2 star has bagged three goals in Serie A, denoting a tremendous aerial ability and innate incisiveness. Everton, physical and adept at using their noggins, could benefit from such a quality.

Indeed, as per FBref, he ranks among the top 2% of centre-backs in Serie A for goals scored, the top 4% for aerial duels won, the top 19% for clearances, and the top 16% for ball recoveries per 90.

Such goalscoring qualities and physical robustness have curiously seen Fiorentina’s Yerry Mina listed as one of his most comparable players by FBRef. Formerly of Everton, the Colombian has long been regarded as a high-class defender, just blighted by injuries throughout his career.

In August 2018, Everton signed the towering colossus from Barcelona for a £27m fee. He had thrived at the World Cup in Russia, scoring against England in the knockout stage.

Former Blues gaffer Marco Silva said that Mina was “unlucky” during his time at Goodison Park, only hitting 20+ Premier League starts in two of his five campaigns before departing on a free in 2023.

However, his leaping headers and ball-playing quality, forged in the famed furnaces of La Masia, really underscored the vision. Now, Moyes is looking to repeat a trick with De Winter – hopefully one which won’t be hampered by fitness problems.

Who knows, by bringing such an aerially adept player into the fold, hailed for his “unreal” progress by journalist Antonio Mango, it may even convince Branthwaite to stay put for a time yet.

For all the Englishman’s ability, he’s not yet mastered dominance in the skies. That is to say, Sofascore record that Branthwaite’s aerial duel success rate stands at just 53%.

Conversely, De Winter’s is a whopping 71% in Italy this term. You can see that by combining the contrasting skill sets, Moyes’ Everton might just go from strength to strength.

De Winter’s youth and modern-tailored skill set suggest he could be the perfect fit for an Everton side looking to adapt to new climes.

Partnering with Branthwaite for the long run, this truly could be a duo for the ages, leading Bramley Moore to the higher peaks of the Premier League and maybe even exploits overseas.

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da bet7k： Results remain inconsistent, yet Ruben Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 system is starting to come to fruition at Manchester United, with the Red Devils heading into the international break in buoyant mood after convincing wins of Real Sociedad and Leicester City.

da pinup bet： Even in Tuesday’s 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest, there were further signs of encouragement, albeit with Amorim himself admitting that his side “need to be better” in the final third.

That narrow defeat saw United fire off 23 shots without getting on the scoresheet, with the fact remaining that Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have scored just six Premier League goals between them this season.

Such a return from the Red Devils’ only senior options at centre-forward simply isn’t good enough, with the wait still on at Old Trafford for a proven and consistent number nine to lead the line.

As showcased below, not since Robin van Persie’s debut campaign has a player reached 20 league goals in a season for the club. Elsewhere in Manchester, by contrast, Erling Haaland has reached that milestone in each of his three seasons at the Etihad to date.

Man Utd’s top PL scorer by season

Season

Player

Goals

2024/25*

Bruno Fernandes

8

2023/24

Bruno Fernandes & Rasmus Hojlund

10

2022/23

Marcus Rashford

17

2021/22

Cristiano Ronaldo

18

2020/21

Bruno Fernandes

18

2019/20

Marcus Rashford & Anthony Martial

17

2018/19

Paul Pogba

13

2017/18

Romelu Lukaku

16

2016/17

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

17

2015/16

Anthony Martial

11

2014/15

Wayne Rooney

12

2013/14

Wayne Rooney

17

2012/13

Robin van Persie

26

Stats via Transfermarkt

Having actually only scored 37 goals in 30 top-flight games as a collective in 2024/25, it’s evident where the problem lies, with it seemingly no surprise that work is already being done on potentially trying to solve those goal-scoring woes.

Latest on Man Utd's search for a striker

In each of the last two summers, United have forked out for a ‘striker’ in the form of Hojlund and Zirkzee, with the pair costing just over £100m combined following their respective arrivals from Serie A.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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As alluded to above, however, that extensive investment has not solved the Red Devils’ woes at the top end of the pitch, with the club almost back to square one in that regard, heading into the upcoming summer window.

Recent reports in Germany have named the likes of Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres among a raft of targets that INEOS are believed to be considering, with the latter man having scored 66 goals in just 68 games under Amorim’s watch at Sporting CP.

According to the latest claims, however, the Old Trafford side could look closer to home to find a new number nine, with the Daily Mail reporting that the club are stepping up their interest in Ipswich Town talisman, Liam Delap.

As per the report, United have held internal talks regarding a move for the in-demand striker, with as many as five clubs seemingly battling for his signature.

The suggestion is that the presence of technical director Jason Wilcox – who knows the 22-year-old from their time at Manchester City’s academy – could have given Amorim and co an ‘advantage’ in that race, with the Englishman set to be available for around £40m, amid Ipswich’s looming relegation.

Such a move would be the first time United have plucked a new senior striker from within the top-flight since landing Romelu Lukaku back in 2017.

Why Man Utd could be set for their next Lukaku

Let’s face it, Lukaku’s time in Manchester is likely not looked upon favourably by all parties, with the Belgian star departing after just two years at the club, having been criticised by journalist Samuel Luckhurst for his “woeful and costly” finishing during Jose Mourinho’s final days in charge.

There were also criticisms made due to the fact that the now-Napoli man had “bulked up too much” ahead of his second season at Old Trafford, as Luckhurst noted, with those woes culminating in a swift £74m exit to Inter in the summer of 2019.

The one-time Chelsea man may not have delivered quite what was expected upon his £75m move from Everton in 2017, yet his goal return has aged impressively, when considering the woes of Hojlund et al.

Indeed, Lukaku – who was just 23 when he made the switch from Goodison Park – finished off with a respectable total of 42 goals in 96 games. Hojlund, by contrast, has scored just 24 times in 83 outings in all competitions.

Lukaku arrived with a fearsome reputation amid his tally of 87 in 166 for the Toffees, with the same perhaps true of young Delap, with the Man City youth product having scored ten times in his first full season in the top-flight for the Tractor Boys.

That return – which betters every United player in the league in 2024/25 – has seen the England U21 star described as a “problem for every Premier League defence” by data analyst Ben Mattinson.

Also described as a “wrecking ball” by Sky Sports reporter, Lewis Jones, Delap mirrors Lukaku in being able to offer that physical focal point in attack, having seemingly relished the battle with Harry Maguire in the meeting between the two sides at Old Trafford.

What has been particularly evident this season is the Ipswich star’s ability to drive his side forward, as he ranks in the top 18% of European strikers for progressive carries, and in the top 16% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Lukaku in his pomp at Everton was also that kind of bull-dozing centre-forward – as illustrated in his catalogue of goals below – with it having been understandable as to why Mourinho and co were so keen to land his services.

There may be a risk of Delap enduring similar woes to Belgium’s all-time record scorer, not least considering he is far less experienced in top-flight football, yet he does mirror a young Lukaku in being a high potential centre-forward who has showcased what he can do up against Premier League backlines.

He is a handful, no doubt about that.

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da winzada777： Manchester United are preparing a big-money offer for a former Manchester City player that Ruben Amorim is desperate to bring to Old Trafford, according to a new report.

Man Utd draw at Lyon as Amorim praises Zirkzee

da betway： After a difficult start to the season, United were finally showing signs of improvement under Amorim, having enjoyed much-improved results over the past two months.

In mid-week against Lyon in the Europa League, however, their progress suffered a slight setback as they were held to a disappointing 2-2 draw at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais.

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Two mistakes from goalkeeper Andre Onana cost the Red Devils, with the Cameroon international first letting a cross go directly under him in the first-half, and then fumbling a tame shot in the final minutes of the game to allow Rayan Cherki to score a last-gasp equalizer, which resulted in him being dropped against Newcastle United on Sunday. The Magpies ran riot at St James’ Park, winning 4-1 without Eddie Howe on the sidelines.

Despite the setback against Lyon, however, there were still positives to take from the display, most notably that of forward Joshua Zirkzee, who was on the scoresheet for the second time in three Europa League games, heading home Bruno Fernandes’ cross in the 88th minute.

Talking about the Dutchman, who earlier in the season was substituted after just 33 minutes in a game against Newcastle United, after the draw with Lyon, Amorim hailed his striker’s recent displays.

“Yes, he’s doing a great job. Also a very important thing was the way the fans react after that incident,” he said.

Asked about his role in Zirkzee’s turnaround, Amorim added: “I just want to help the team and then work with him. With all the work that all the staff is doing with him he’s improving, and then I put him to play. This is the only way to show confidence to the player.”

Man Utd launch £70m move for Morgan Rogers

Despite Zirkzee’s recent improvement, seven goals and three assists in all competitions still isn’t enough to help United back to competing for titles, so Amorim will no doubt be looking to bolster his forward line in the summer.

And according to a report from Spain, the Portuguese boss already knows just the man he wants: Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers.

Rogers, formerly of Manchester City, has been one of the Premier League and Europe’s star players this season, helping Villa not only enjoy another solid Premier League campaign, but also reach the quarterfinals, and possibly even further, in the Champions League.

It is claimed that United and Amorim have identified the England international as one of their top targets for the summer, and are “willing to do everything possible to bring him to Old Trafford.”

The Red Devils are said to have already launched a massive £70 million bid for Rogers, however it’s thought that luring him away from Villa will be tough, with the club keen to keep hold of a player they consider one of their most important, and talented, stars.

Rogers stats for Villa 24/25

Games

46

Goals

14

Assists

12

After netting a hat-trick against Celtic in the Champions League back in January, former Villa star Stiliyan Petrov described him as a “joy to watch.”

“He was just outstanding, we saw everything from the young man. He looked like a mature player,” Petrov said. “He looked like he is going to be a star.”