Manchester United’s options to bolster the striker position this summer are becoming slim, and this might lead to a far from ideal solution being found.
Ineos had a set plan this summer for the attack, with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo part of this.
However, up front, it was not as easy to attain top targets.
Manchester United originally had a set list of options, with Liam Delap considered Ineos’ number one target back in May. However, the former Ipswich number nine chose to join Chelsea instead, thanks to their Champions League football.
This led to United having to pivot to more expensive options than the £30m Delap release clause, with Viktor Gyokeres desired. However, Gyokeres is now expected to join Arsenal, with United’s options list growing slim and increasingly weak, which makes keeping Rasmus Hojlund seem like a better idea.
United have been credited with interest in Dominic Calvert-Lewin, which is far from an upgrade; however, there is one big-money option that remains a feasible option for the club.
Moise Kean of Fiorentina celebrates scoring his team's third goal during Serie A match.
Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images
Manchester United have strongest interest in Moise Kean
With the top two targets off the table for Ineos, United will instead be looking at strikers who are a level below the top-class level, which was initially hoped for.
With this in mind, it might end up that United decides to keep Rasmus Hojlund is better than the possible addition of a striker who is nowhere near good enough.
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Hojlund is currently wanted by Inter Milan, but it is within Serie A that United could be looking for a replacement, with Moise Kean still on the agenda at Old Trafford.
The Athletic have now reported that this interest remains with United keeping tabs on the Italian striker who has a £44.8m release clause which is valid until July 15th.
United are the Premier League club who have shown the most interest in signing the 25-year-old, but will face competition from Saudi Arabian clubs this summer.
Kean will be at Old Trafford in August as United face Fiorentina in pre-season, which could have him on either side if Ineos decides to trigger his release clause.
The former Juventus prodigy is no stranger to Premier League football.
Moise Kean was once compared with Michel Platini by Carlo Ancelotti
Kean made the leap from Serie A to England at the age of 19, joining Everton for £23m, but instantly struggled with the new league, despite playing under the legendary Carlo Ancelotti.
Ancelotti, however, was full of belief that his countryman would come good in the future, citing three-time Ballon d’Or winner Michel Platini as an example of players taking time to settle, as per TNT Sports.
“When I was a player, I remember Platini arriving at Juventus from Saint Etienne (at 27). It took him six months to adjust, and that was Platini.
“I had the same problem with Hirving Lozano when he came to Napoli, and he was two or three years older than Kean… We should always be patient with young players.
“Kean is a player we tried to sign when I was at Napoli, but he chose Everton. He has fantastic quality and I’m sure he’ll be a top talent, but he’s 19 and everything is new for him here.”
Kean scored just two Premier League goals for Everton, but in Italy over the past 12 months, he has finally shown glimpses of the potential that made him so highly rated in the first place with a 25-goal season for Fiorentina.
At the age of just 25, there is still plenty of time for him to become a top striker, and a move to England to redeem himself will surely be on the cards if so.