Manchester United’s striker search has taken them through the continent so far, but ‘one of the favourites’ at Old Trafford might just have become a double-edged sword.
It started with Liam Delap rejecting United for Chelsea, then snowballed into Viktor Gyokeres burning bridges with Sporting, but not for United, the striker curse with Hugo Ekitike, and much more.
That has forced Man Utd to be creative in the strikers’ market, where they are casting their net far and wide for options.
One such option who emerged after doing so quickly became ‘one of the favourites’ at Old Trafford, but his latest demand means United must steer clear.
Moise Kean of Fiorentina celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Serie A match between Udinese and Fiorentina at Stadio Friuli on May 25, 2025
Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images
Moise Kean emerging as Man Utd’s ‘favourite’
It’s a rumour that wasn’t given much mileage when it first appeared, but there’s simply too much smoke around Moise Kean to United for there not to be any fire.
United have been linked to Kean consistently for over a month now, and are mentioned as one of the competitors when other sides register an interest.
It makes sense from one POV, since Kean has Premier League pedigree like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, albeit a sketchy one.
He’s also of the age profile where he’s not too old to have any value, but also not young enough that a team is betting completely on potential.
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Add to that his physical profile, palatable release clause, and a breakout season in Florence, and it has all the ingredients of being a proper Ineos signing.
Latest reports from Italy via Corriere dello Sport suggest that Kean has emerged as ‘one of the favourites’ at Old Trafford to fill the No. 9 spot.
However, in the same report, it is clear why United must steer clear.
Moise Kean’s £17m demand
One of the competitors of United in the race to sign Kean is Saudi side Al Qadsiah, who have already approached the player.
It goes without saying that when a Saudi side enters the picture, all sense of financial figures goes out of the window instantly.
The report above states that their opening offer to Kean was in the region of £12.8m/annum salary, a figure United weren’t going to match anyway.
However, what transpired next is even more remarkable, because Kean reportedly asked for £17m instead, making the motivation of his move purely economic.
Not only will United fail to go anywhere near that number, but Kean giving the Saudi side a number which is an increase on an already huge figure should have United questioning his motivation.
This is not a bidding war United should enter. At best, they should make an offer to Kean and then leave it up to him whether he accepts it or not.
Irresponsible wage structure management is what has brought Man Utd to the stage of financial ruin. It was because of deals like this that it happened.