Man United are looking to build on their signing of Mason Mount but remain in desperate need of a top-class centre-forward this summer.
One is simply not enough for Manchester United, who have signed Mason Mount from Chelsea but need a lot more.
The Reds’ pre-season has begun, amid a backdrop of takeover nonsense, and manager Erik ten Hag is back on the training pitch with his squad. It is a group that still needs help, with David De Gea having left the club after 12 years and a senior centre-forward still not recruited.
Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen were the two main names going into the summer, but it has transpired that both of those seem beyond United’s price range. That has led to Rasmus Hojlund of Atalanta emerging as the leading candidate to boost United’s attack, though the latestɾєρօɾτsof the Italian side demanding an £85.5million fee will cause some concern.
That kind of outlay would Ԁєɑł a significant blow to United’s remaining budget of around £120m; Randal Kolo Muani and Goncalo Ramos are two other strikers on United’s transfer radar. The arrival of Inter Milan shot-stopper Andre Onana does appear to be imminent, with Unitedclaimedto have finally agreed a fee with the Serie A side after back and forth.
The capture of Onana, in addition to Mount’s move to Old Trafford, would represent two smart pieces of recruitment on United’s behalf – especially when you factor in the takeover farce. As it stands, though, Ten Hag and co will depart for the USA tour with just one new face on the ρłɑɴe – despite it being clear all of last season just how badly they need a top centre-forward.
After playing Lyon in Edinburgh, on Wednesday, July 19, United will fly straight to the United States – where they face Arsenal, Wrexham, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. Pre-season is a vital period for managers, as they look to get their ideas hammered home ahead of the new league campaign.
And judging by Ten Hag’s comments after the victory over Leeds, he would not be overly impressed to travel stateside without a new striker signed up. When asked about signing players early in the summer ahead of the first pre-season fixture against Leeds, Ten Hagsaid: “It’s a big advantage. You always hope as a manager you have the players in the first moment then across the pre-season you can work on routines.”
United’s senior players who took part in international fixtures at the єɴԀ of last season return on Saturday – meaning Ten Hag’s ‘first moment’ with his full squad will come at the weekєɴԀ. That means Ten Hag will want to wrap up his remaining transfer business as early as possible to give his new signings the best chance possible of hitting the ground running in the new season and give him the time he craves to work on routines with fresh arrivals over the coming weeks.
Strikers, possibly more than most, need to be on the same wavelength as their teammates if they are to anticipate those passes that could create them chances – so Ten Hag will know how important it is he brings one in sooner rather than later.
