Manchester United’s hunt for a new striker this summer has seen them land on some very interesting targets, but a move for Jhon Duran has already been rejected.
Manchester United are set to overhaul their forward line this summer following a dismal 2024/25 campaign that ended with a 15th-place finish in the Premier League, with a lack of cutting edge in front of goal playing a major role in their decline.
Bruno Fernandes was the club’s leading scorer with 19 goals, followed by Alejandro Garnacho and Amad with 11 each. Rasmus Højlund chipped in with 10, but no other player reached double figures across all competitions.
The club have already completed the £62.5 million signing of Matheus Cunha and are edging closer to securing Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo. An initial fee of £55 million has reportedly been agreed in principle, and talks are now focused on the structure of the add-ons. The Cameroon international is expected to undergo a medical this week.
Meanwhile, the search for a new central striker remains ongoing. While Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres was a leading target, the Swedish forward is now said to prefer a move to Arsenal. As a result, United are exploring alternative options, including Hugo Ekitike and Ollie Watkins.
Why United rejected the chance to sign Duran
In the first half of last season, Jhon Duran exploded onto the scene at Aston Villa, with the 21-year-old Colombian forward netting 12 goals across all competitions before completing a stunning £64.5 million move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in January.
However, the player has reportedly become disgruntled in the Middle East and is determined to move back to Europe ahead of next season. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, United were offered the chance to sign Duran, but rejected it.
“Manchester United were also offered the possibility to sign John Duran from Al-Nassr on an initial loan deal covering his salary,” Romano explained on his YouTube channel. “But, Man United decided to turn down that possibility to focus on different targets.”
It’s no surprise United passed on the chance to sign Duran on loan. For starters, his current weekly wage at Al-Nassr is around £350,000 per week, which is far too high for United to afford, considering they aim to reduce their wage bill this summer.
Secondly, United would not want a striker to join on loan. This summer, Amorim is focused on securing players who will take United to the next level over the next two to three seasons. Therefore, bringing in a striker, which is such an essential part of Amorim’s system, on a one-year deal would be counter-productive.
Instead, Duran is expected to complete a shock move to Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahçe, currently managed by Jose Mourinho.
United have two routes for the striker position this summer
The striker market this summer is a strange one. There are plenty of options available, but it is generally accepted across the footballing world that the prices being quoted seem inflated, considering the average level of talent on offer.
For example, Gyökeres has never competed in a top-five European league, but is being priced at above £60 million. Furthermore, young talents such as Ekitike are being valued at £85 million, despite only showcasing their abilities for one season or outside of the established elite leagues.
United need to ensure that they make the right decision this summer regarding the striker. If they choose to go down the route of signing a young talent at a high fee, they must not repeat the mistakes made with Højlund and give the new signing time to settle into the team and fully understand their role.
Read More: Fabrizio Romano explains that Manchester United signing now “almost impossible”, new name is “under consideration”
On the other hand, it may be worth exploring the option of acquiring a more experienced striker and allowing the market to develop.
Should United head for a player like 29-year-old Watkins from Villa, that would allow the club to sign an experienced striker who can guarantee goals for two or three seasons, while younger players like Chido Obi develop.
It would also give United more time to keep tabs on the current striker market and assess their options before signing a longer-term option in the coming seasons. Either way, they must get their next striker signing right if they want to win the Premier League title by 2028.
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