Do we need to sign a striker?

[C'est Moi Cantona]

I think Sesko and Mbeumo is fine up front. We need a more dynamic wide attacker who can score goals and I'd be happy to sell Rashford to fund this.

I'm sure the club would be ecstatic aswell.

The problem with Mbeumo up front is that Mbeumo is basically the first choice RW unless Amad is really on form, and also the only real player in the squad that you'd want to see playing up front if Sesko is injured awell.

So as we saw against Hull with Amad out, Mbeumo had to play on the RW, which meant Cuhna was upfront, which not only cost us on the LW, but up front aswell, and if Mbeumo had been asked to play up front instead, then we'd have been looking at have to play Lacey on the RW instead.

It seems such an obvious hole in the squad.

 

[golden_blunder]

So you agree with me, that the club is a mess, and we look to sign average players instead of quality. Thank you.

We have no money mate

 

[golden_blunder]

I think Sesko and Mbeumo is fine up front. We need a more dynamic wide attacker who can score goals and I'd be happy to sell Rashford to fund this.

 

[Bondi77]

Probably not
We would not be spending much and they wouldn't be better players than Mateus Marcus or Bryan anyway.
We all know that we signed Benji to be our main striker anyway and if he stays injury free he should play in all of our important games and we can rotate.

 

[Paul778]

I think Sesko and Mbeumo is fine up front. We need a more dynamic wide attacker who can score goals and I'd be happy to sell Rashford to fund this.

I second this. We really should try to sell Rashford. If only our board could see things this clearly.

 

[UnitedSofa]

Look at the names going around Sørloth, Mateta, 1-2 years with Welbeck. This shows how awful United have fallen.
Should be going for Julian Alvarez. Pay up, sometimes quality costs. You can't always buy cheap and hope for development and luck.

Years, & I’m talking a decade here, of over spending and in and out of the champions league has finally caught up with us. More of us need to realise that. We definitely need to be smarter with our buys.

Is the striker market that bad or are we being made to believe there are no options out there?

At the start of this window my mate said we should have kept Rasmus as a second striker behind Sesko, as he couldn’t do any worse than Zirkzee in Carrick’s set up and I laughed… I’m still laughing but not as loud.

Football in 2026 relies less on strikers now than they did in the past. How many top top strikers can you name? There just isn’t that many out there and the drop off from world class to great / good is huge.

 

[Bondi77]

I second this. We really should try to sell Rashford. If only our board could see things this clearly.

I am sure we are just waiting for realistic offers aren't we?
What would you say would be one?

 

[Møllemanden]

What would you say would be one?

£0 - if you pay his wages. That would free up £30m for new signings.

 

[Bondi77]

£0 - if you pay his wages. That would free up £30m for new signings.

And therein lies the issue!

 

[foolsgold]

We obviously need a striker to provide competition and cover for Sesko. Chido Obi might be the long term answer, but he's only 15 and miles away from being ready. Neither Rashford or Mbeumo are convincing at a number 9. Watkins would have been ideal, but I don't see Villa selling to us

 

[golden_blunder]

We obviously need a striker to provide competition and cover for Sesko. Chido Obi might be the long term answer, but he's only 15 and miles away from being ready. Neither Rashford or Mbeumo are convincing at a number 9. Watkins would have been ideal, but I don't see Villa selling to us

He’s getting younger!

 

[Bastian]

Chris Wood is now effectively third choice, behind both Igor Jesus and Liam Delap. We might even be able to get him on loan.

 

[CM]

I think I'd want a striker even ahead of a left back now. We've got a handful of players who can play LB, even if none of them are perfect. Last week demonstrated how dire it could be for us if Sesko isn't fully fit. Mbeumo is fine but we need another player who can hold up the ball well and with some box presence.

Chris Wood is now effectively third choice, behind both Igor Jesus and Liam Delap. We might even be able to get him on loan.

I guess this would be the market we'd be shopping in now if we did make a move for a striker, unfortunately. Wood has a year left on his deal so probably would be possible, but if we haven't been tracking any better alternatives, we should've just moved for Welbeck earlier in the window.

 

[pcaming]

I think I'd want a striker even ahead of a left back now. We've got a handful of players who can play LB, even if none of them are perfect. Last week demonstrated how dire it could be for us if Sesko isn't fully fit. Mbeumo is fine but we need another player who can hold up the ball well and with some box presence.


I guess this would be the market we'd be shopping in now if we did make a move for a striker, unfortunately. Wood has a year left on his deal so probably would be possible, but if we haven't been tracking any better alternatives, we should've just moved for Welbeck earlier in the window.

May as well not bother this season then, we won't even crack top 8 like this

 

[CM]

May as well not bother this season then, we won't even crack top 8 like this

I'd obviously prefer we make a more ambitious signing but all the noises suggest we're not prepared to really spend after getting Baleba done.

These pre-date INEOS but we've also made loads of desperate loan signings in the last few years - Ighalo, Weghorst, Amrabat, Reguilon, Sabitzer, Dubravka, Butland, etc. These feel like the types of signings we do now if we leave it late without much budget.

 

[Garethw]

Is the striker market that bad or are we being made to believe there are no options out there?

At the start of this window my mate said we should have kept Rasmus as a second striker behind Sesko, as he couldn’t do any worse than Zirkzee in Carrick’s set up and I laughed… I’m still laughing but not as loud.

I’d much rather have Hojlund as a second option to Sesko than no option at all.

Mbuemo is not a striker and the fact that we’ll have to play him there for large portions of the season is ridiculous.

As things stand we have to hope that Sesko scores 20+ goals and Rashford can chip in with 10-15.

 

[CallyRed]

Sorloth would be handy if we were making a new Rocky movie with Prime. He'd make a great Soviet boxer.

 

[Garethw]

They should be going all out to get Endrick in on loan with an option/obligation to sign next summer. The lad can play all along the front three positions.

I cannot believe that we are in a position where most of us (myself included) would be ecstatic if we got 34 year old Chris fecking Wood in on loan to provide cover.

They had about 7 fecking weeks between the Tielman and Baleba signings to get a backup striker in and yet here we are three days before the window closes praying that we get any old shit in to play when Sesko inevitably gets injured.

Heads should be rolling over the incompetence of this window from Ineos.

 

[Rossa]

Normally, I'd argue that the best teams have the best (set of) striker. Sesko is still potential more than he is expected quality, which simply isn't good enough for a club trying to win titles. Cunha, Rashford, Mbumo are not good enough as strikers, so yes, we clearly need an established striker that can rotate with Sesko. Welbeck could have been an option, but not sure if he's really good enough.

 

[golden_blunder]

Normally, I'd argue that the best teams have the best (set of) striker. Sesko is still potential more than he is expected quality, which simply isn't good enough for a club trying to win titles. Cunha, Rashford, Mbumo are not good enough as strikers, so yes, we clearly need an established striker that can rotate with Sesko. Welbeck could have been an option, but not sure if he's really good enough.

The aim I believe is to build a team that’s working as a sum of all parts. Whether that’s a successful practice is a different matter. It also gives the club a narrative if they don’t compete for the 100m+ players anymore.
Welbeck would have been good for a season and a brilliant mentor behind the scenes

 

[croadyman]

If Alvarez does stay at atletico, then that increases chances of sorloth being allowed to leave. Whether we actually have an interest of we were offered him by intermediaries. Remains to be seen.

I would like a journalist to ask Wilcox and co, why we didn't sign Wellbeck for £5mil if we are that short of cash for transfers.

They should ask but too busy wanting a Rashford update

 

[Hernandez - BFA]

We must surely be getting a striker if Zirkzee is on his way.
Sesko can't fully be trusted fitness wise yet - and if he's out for a period of time - we're looking at Mbeumo and Rashford - two players I'd argue who aren't even true strikers.

 

[dinostar77]

We must surely be getting a striker if Zirkzee is on his way.
Sesko can't fully be trusted fitness wise yet - and if he's out for a period of time - we're looking at Mbeumo and Rashford - two players I'd argue who aren't even true strikers.

We'll know for sure by 10pm on Tuesday

Let's hope so. As was pointed out on MOTD, neither Cunha or Mbeumo are strikers nor think like a striker. We need a big strong lad who can occupy centre backs, win fouls, work the channels and we can play the ball off.

As Alvarez isn't going to arsenal or Barcelona. Still hope we can get Sorloth or someone on loan without a obligation to buy.

 

[croadyman]

We'll know for sure by 10pm on Tuesday

Let's hope so. As was pointed out on MOTD, neither Cunha or Mbeumo are strikers nor think like a striker. We need a big strong lad who can occupy centre backs, win fouls, work the channels and we can play the ball off.

As Alvarez isn't going to arsenal or Barcelona. Still hope we can get Sorloth or someone on loan without a obligation to buy.

Exactly, could the profile needed be more obvious

 

[Katy Cat]

We should sign Will Lankshear...but will need to wait until next summer.

 

[croadyman]

We should sign Will Lankshear...but will need to wait until next summer.

Yeah club should come out and say that's it for a striker, also stop this BS about project 150 and target top 5

 

[DULLAGHAN]

The little troll managing spurs has stated Richarlison wants to leave, could be a decent option as a Sesko back up. When he's motivated he's a handful and can see him doing well at old trafford. It's a market opportunity I wouldn't be against if they can do a good deal

 

[TheReligion]

The little troll managing spurs has stated Richarlison wants to leave, could be a decent option as a Sesko back up. When he's motivated he's a handful and can see him doing well at old trafford. It's a market opportunity I wouldn't be against if they can do a good deal

Agreed

@golden_blunder

 

[golden_blunder]

The little troll managing spurs has stated Richarlison wants to leave, could be a decent option as a Sesko back up. When he's motivated he's a handful and can see him doing well at old trafford. It's a market opportunity I wouldn't be against if they can do a good deal

Wouldn’t be against that idea either, he’s a pest, strong and would settle in with the Brazilian contingent

 

[Marcus]

Can we loan Wout? He may not score many goals, but he really brings a lot to the team.

 

[Marcus]

Wouldn’t be against that idea either, he’s a pest, strong and would settle in with the Brazilian contingent

Agree.

 

[IrwinwasbetterthanCarlos]

The little troll managing spurs has stated Richarlison wants to leave, could be a decent option as a Sesko back up. When he's motivated he's a handful and can see him doing well at old trafford. It's a market opportunity I wouldn't be against if they can do a good deal

I saw this and agree. It’s who I’d go for. Ideally loan or for a cheap fee as a Zirkzee replacement. He’s a d**k, but he’d be our d**k. The sort of player that would only score 5 or 6 goals for us, but they include a last minute equaliser against City and a winner at Anfield.

 

[Marwood]

The little troll managing spurs has stated Richarlison wants to leave, could be a decent option as a Sesko back up. When he's motivated he's a handful and can see him doing well at old trafford. It's a market opportunity I wouldn't be against if they can do a good deal

Surely that should put us off.

 

[Banana Republic]

Cyle Larin.


.

 

[TR1LL]

Some of these names….we’re cooked.

Also, we should be signing a striker to compete for the starting 11. Not even more garbage to be a back up to a guy that quite frankly, I’m not 100% convinced on as our undisputed #1

 

[DiceRoller]

Look at the names going around Sørloth, Mateta, 1-2 years with Welbeck. This shows how awful United have fallen.
Should be going for Julian Alvarez. Pay up, sometimes quality costs. You can't always buy cheap and hope for development and luck.

Thankfully you aren’t in charge of transfers.

Why would you go and pay £100m + for a player who clearly doesn’t want to sign for anyone bar Barcelona.

It would go against the whole ethos of what INEOS are trying to do which is only sign players who actually genuinely want to be at United.

If Alvarez doesn’t want to play for Arsenal
I see absolutely no reason why he’d want to play for us.

 

[golden_blunder]

Some of these names….we’re cooked.

Also, we should be signing a striker to compete for the starting 11. Not even more garbage to be a back up to a guy that quite frankly, I’m not 100% convinced on as our undisputed #1

We don’t have the money to properly address it left.

 

[King7Eric]

Some of these names….we’re cooked.

Also, we should be signing a striker to compete for the starting 11. Not even more garbage to be a back up to a guy that quite frankly, I’m not 100% convinced on as our undisputed #1

Yeah I never understood where this "backup" CF thing popped up over the last few years. And especially this profile of looking for an old journeyman CF in his 30s. I can only imagine the success of Cavani colored our board's imagination that an older CF is needed. But they seem to forget that Cavani was a top quality player who actually became 1st choice here by the end of the season.

The likes of Igalho and Weghorst were failures because well they weren't top quality players even in their prime, so how could they morph into one in their 30s?

If we want a 2nd option for CF, great by all means but it should be someone who can challenge Sesko. And if we don't have the money for it then trust in Sesko to score the goals, or have Mbeumo and Rashford play up there when needed. How is getting a CF in their mid 30s who was never top quality in his prime going to help up win trophies? I don't see any other top club- Arsenal, City, Liverpool etc doing this.

 

[Banana Republic]

Indeed, the whole “back-up” idea is nonsense.
Personally I think we need at least one other striker to compete, rotate and provide cover.
The same would apply to Sesko, to compete, rotate and provide cover.
With Cunha, Mbeumo and possibly Rashford (if he stays) in the squad, we probably only need one new striker in the squad at this point in time.
If we can’t get, or afford….or they may not be out there…a top striker/CF, then there’s nothing wrong with a temporary fix, if the money is right and the player can be relied on to be available and not being a crock.

If the longer term aim is to get quality in the CF/striker position, but that can’t be achieved immediately, then it’s not a failing, skimping, or incompetence on the part of the management team, if they look at cheaper, but effective, shorter term alternatives.
They shouldn’t just be throwing money away like the previous regime, especially when they’re trying to rebuild the club’s financial position.
We just don’t know what their thinking is, on this matter.

.

 

[Denis' cuff]

Get Osimhen.

Don’t worry about lw, rw. Big Vic will lick them into shape. Now or never. In his prime. Whatever it takes.

feck “value”. This guy will be value, whatever it costs.

We won’t, of course. No title in the foreseeable.