Do we need to sign a striker?

Yes, we need a first team forward.
I've always been impressed with Alvarez. Technically a well rounded forward, which is quite rare nowadays.
 
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Richarlison? Scored 9 league goals in a crap Spurs team and is always extra fired up against Liverpool.
 
Richarlison? Scored 9 league goals in a crap Spurs team and is always extra fired up against Liverpool.

I'd take him. That's the right idea, I think. Premier League proven, not a superstar, just a decent, vaguely reliable #9 option. Mbeumo and Cunha can't really do it, and Zirkzee will, I am sure, be sold.
 
Does Harold Kane have a release clause?
No, not any more. He had a clause in January for the summer of 2026, £57m.

His contract expires in 2027 though.
 
No, not any more. He had a clause in January for the summer of 2026, £57m.

His contract expires in 2027 though.

I mean, if he were available for anywhere near that sort of fee, then I think it would make perfect sense. His wages would be high. But his wages are high because he is good at football. I don’t think the idea is for us to simply be a mega club that doesn’t pay anyone a lot of wages - his age profile dovetails perfectly with Sesko and he may still have designs on the PL goals record.

That said, I wouldn’t be mad at going the other way and getting Kroupi either.
 
I struggle to see any one striker that would elevate us except Kane.

I will hate that Kane didn't play for this club to my dying days.
Couldn’t agree more. No way Fergie would’ve let him waste so much of his career at Spurs. Exactly the kind of player he’d have broken the bank for.
Richarlison? Scored 9 league goals in a crap Spurs team and is always extra fired up against Liverpool.
Would ideally like someone with a better fitness record, but it’s exactly in the ball park I’m thinking. We can’t use too much of our budget on it, but if Zirkzee goes (which I expect he will) then we’ll need an extra body, even just to start the domestic cups. Jimenez on a free is another.

People need to stop suggesting Lewandowski though. He’s no longer an automatic starter at Barca and will turn 38 next season. Was once world class, doubt he’ll want to sit on the bench until we have Port Vale in the Carabao. Doubt INEOS would want to pay him the wages he’d demand to do that either…
 
If we sell Zirkzee then yes. Though considering how many positions we need to feel then he must be someone on the cheap. Maybe we can go for Delap on loan with a low option to buy clause with one between Lukaku (1 year contract left but had burned bridges with Napoli) or Callum Wilson as an experienced cover.
 
I don't know where Chido-Obi is as at, he has certainly stopped pulling up trees in the youth set up, but even if he is ready to bring to the bench we need another seasoned striker to take the burden from Sesko. I would take a serious tilt at Welbeck as long as he is happy to ride the bench at times, I would certainly only be looking at somebody at his end of their career anyway, unless there is some brilliant buy out there, and I just don't see that many exiting strikers around at present
 
Seems we are really playing with a false 9, so not sure we 'need' a striker. Of course, we'd need a replacement if Zirkzee goes. Sesko does a good job as a target but doesn't seem to be great at hold up play. I definitely wouldn't mind getting Lewa but the budget is the thing.
 
Maybe we have one who might be ready for first team football next season...

 
We don't need a striker, very low down on what we need.
 
As for a striker though, if we could get Thiago and two of our midfield targets for £200m~ then I'd be over the moon
I doubt Thiago would be a success despite his very impressive season at Brentford. The amount of counterattacking space he gets at Brentford is very favourable towards his weaknesses.
Not that United always faces a low block, but his reaction time and acceleration from a standstill will be much more relevant, and it looks on the weaker side of the Prem average to me.
 
If Spurs go down, could we consider Solanke? Would he be cheap? Whitwell says «experienced striker». I just hope we get one that can run.

Would make even more sense if the club hired Iraola.
 
Maybe we have one who might be ready for first team football next season...


I think he'll need a loan, but that is definitely the best all round game I've seen of him. I championship loan to a decent team would be very good. I wouldn't even be adverse to loaning him to someone like Leicester, a team that should be coming straight back up.
 
Any ideas on who this experienced striker might be?



Based on a quick look, CFs aged 28+ with the most goals in the league this season:

Welbeck (35 years old)
Watkins (30 years old)
Richarlison (28 years old)
Beto (28 years old)
Mateta (28 years old)
Jimenez (34 years old)
Wilson (34 years old)
Solanke (28 years old)
 
I'd love Welbeck back.

Sesko, Welbeck and Obi. With Mbeumo and Cunha also able to play CF. Should be good enough while we sort out our midfield.

Sell Zirkzee.
 
Just buy Welbeck back. Would be cheap and would generate about 10 or 15 additional goals for us next year. It would place less pressure on Sesko and allow him to develop a bit more organically without the constant need for our only 9 to be our primary goal threat. Would also be a good bridge for a couple of years to gradually bring Obi into the fold.
 
Yes, we need a first team forward.
I've always been impressed with Alvarez. Technically a well rounded forward, which is quite rare nowadays.

Supposedly Arsenal are keen on him this summer.

He'd also cost an absolute bomb.
 
Just buy Welbeck back. Would be cheap and would generate about 10 or 15 additional goals for us next year. It would place less pressure on Sesko and allow him to develop a bit more organically without the constant need for our only 9 to be our primary goal threat. Would also be a good bridge for a couple of years to gradually bring Obi into the fold.
Welbeck just signed a new contract at Brighton, I don't see him wanting to leave there now, if United had any interest in him he would have known that before he signed a new contract

As for Obi, he needs to step up to the next level, he needs to go on loan somewhere because he won't get enough game time as a bit part sub at United
 
Based on a quick look, CFs aged 28+ with the most goals in the league this season:

Welbeck (35 years old)
Watkins (30 years old)
Richarlison (28 years old)
Beto (28 years old)
Mateta (28 years old)
Jimenez (34 years old)
Wilson (34 years old)
Solanke (28 years old)
Unless they go down the free route with vlahovic or Leowandoski?
 
Just buy Welbeck back. Would be cheap and would generate about 10 or 15 additional goals for us next year. It would place less pressure on Sesko and allow him to develop a bit more organically without the constant need for our only 9 to be our primary goal threat. Would also be a good bridge for a couple of years to gradually bring Obi into the fold.

No guarantee that he won't just fall back to his normal level. He has been having an indian summer but is 35, so that drop off could happen at any point soon. I think he stays at Brighton and ends his career there, to be honest.
 
No guarantee that he won't just fall back to his normal level. He has been having an indian summer but is 35, so that drop off could happen at any point soon. I think he stays at Brighton and ends his career there, to be honest.

He's far better in the past year or two than he was in his prime years. The price shouldn't be much either, and I doubt he would run away from from a chance at wrapping up his career at home.
 
Just buy Welbeck back. Would be cheap and would generate about 10 or 15 additional goals for us next year. It would place less pressure on Sesko and allow him to develop a bit more organically without the constant need for our only 9 to be our primary goal threat. Would also be a good bridge for a couple of years to gradually bring Obi into the fold.
Probably our best option depending on the price.
 
Wouldn't mind Welbeck back, but if he's signed a new contract at Brighton that's probably not realistic.
 
Unless they go down the free route with vlahovic or Leowandoski?
Can't help but like the idea of Lewandowski just for a year, however no chance INEOS will sign a 38 year old and like others have said wages will be issue. I have always felt very meh about Vlahovic, however on a free with reasonable wages then it could work.
 
Can't help but like the idea of Lewandowski just for a year, however no chance INEOS will sign a 38 year old and like others have said wages will be issue. I have always felt very meh about Vlahovic, however on a free with reasonable wages then it could work.
Id also love Leowandoski for a year at Utd, within our wage structure. One of the fittest players at Barcelona still at his age. What Sesko could learn from him in a year....
 
I know that Nicolas Jackson has a bad reputation but I think he could be an interesting striker for rotation. At the of 24 he already has experience of playing in La Liga, Premier league and Bundesliga. His numbers at Chelsea weren't a disaster although he missed some big chances. His link-up game is good, runs the channels, presses, a different profile compared Šeško. His age profile fits INEOS transfer policy.

Even at Bayern they are happy with his performances as a rotation striker:

The current tendency is that Nicolas #Jackson will leave FC Bayern in the summer.Bayern’s bosses and Vincent Kompany are satisfied with his performances and professionalism. However, an end in the summer is planned, and there are currently no talks over a second loan/permanent deal. Jackson has plenty of interest and will first return to Chelsea.
@SkySportDE
Vincent Kompany has taken a keen liking to how Nicolas Jackson has handled himself and would not be against keeping him. Bayern have also been impressed with his contribution when called upon, especially
when stepping in to rest Harry Kane and keep him fresh. No final decision will be made until the end of the season
[@iamrahmanosman]
 
Id also love Leowandoski for a year at Utd, within our wage structure. One of the fittest players at Barcelona still at his age. What Sesko could learn from him in a year....
But like Ronaldo, he’d expect to start! Might be less of a Cnut about it than Ronaldo was, but still. Sounds like he’s off to Serie A anyway. If he isn’t, it’ll be the MLS. He’s not going to take the step up from La Liga to the Premier League at 38. I find it bizarre people keep bringing him up.
 
But like Ronaldo, he’d expect to start! Might be less of a Cnut about it than Ronaldo was, but still. Sounds like he’s off to Serie A anyway. If he isn’t, it’ll be the MLS. He’s not going to take the step up from La Liga to the Premier League at 38. I find it bizarre people keep bringing him up.
I suppose I naively believe there is a Zlatan like season in him although he would be three years older
 
They can't afford £21mil for rashford. But the money will turn up for Alvarez from somewhere.
Agreed. The gaslighting from them is amazing. They just dont want him which is fine but dont cry poor.