Dominic Calvert-Lewin sends a header towards goal for Everton against Manchester United.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is being linked with a move to Manchester United.
Manchester United's search for a striker this summer was never going to be easy or straightforward.
Just two-and-a-half weeks out from their opening game of their pre-season tour of the United States, United are in a race against time to ensure a new goal-getter makes their travelling squad.
After missing out on Liam Delap last month, was name-checked by no shortage of United supporters as the striker they should go after to strengthen the tip of their attack. Head coach worked with him at Sporting Lisbon and the Swede has scored 97 goals in the last two seasons.
However, Gyokeres wants to join Arsenal and a deal is on course to get over the line. Once again, United have been forced to go back to the drawing board.
United have expressed interest in Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike in recent weeks, impressed by his haul of 22 goals last season, but the German club's demands will make life difficult for the Reds. Jonathan David, another striker linked with United in recent months, has been snapped up by Juventus.
It means are running out of options in their search for an elite-level goalscorer. David and Gyokeres are members of that category and were both attainable this summer.
However, a lack of European football for 2025/26 and financial constraints mean United are being forced to box clever. They have already spent £62.5million on and remain determined to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford for a similar fee.
As a result of United's determination to strengthen their attack with three new faces, they have already reached a point where they are snookered. They need to oversee a crop of sales before advancing any further with their recruitment drive.
After finishing each of the last two Premier League campaigns with a negative goal difference, the need for a reliable goalscorer has never been greater. Cunha will inject goals into the forward line, likewise Mbeumo if that deal eventually gets sorted, but neither of them are a natural No.9.
Matheus Cunha will add goals to Manchester United's attack. (Image: Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images.)
According to , United have been offered the opportunity to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jamie Vardy and Callum Wilson, each of whom are currently free agents after leaving Everton, Leicester City and Newcastle United respectively.
With the utmost respect to those three aforementioned strikers, who have an impressive 290 Premier League goals between them, none of them offer the answer United are looking for. Calvert-Lewin scored three league goals last season, Vardy will turn 39 in January and Wilson has not scored a Premier League goal since May last year.
In the cases of Vardy and Wilson, their best years have been on gone, whereas Calvert-Lewin has only reached double figures in the Premier League twice in his career. In truth, United would be questioned for signing any of them to take second spot in the pecking order, let alone pole position.
It is not unusual for agents to offer their clients to clubs at this time of year as unattached players look to secure a contract to write the next chapter in their careers. Agents will be mindful of United's desperation for a goal-getter and will be prepared to chance their luck.
The chances of United turning to Calvert-Lewin, Vardy or Wilson are slim. They have, with respect, set the bar much higher, hence why they have been linked with the likes of Victor Osimhen and Gyokeres throughout the summer.
United both want and need a striker who is considered as one of the best in the business, but goalscorers of that ilk cost a pretty penny. Who United will turn to, though, is currently impossible to predict.
Ruben Amorim desperately wants to add a striker to his squad. (Image: Qin Zhicheng/VCG via Getty Images.)
Sales remain key to their chances of strengthening their attack and they are yet to oversee a permanent departure this summer. If they are successful in their attempts to offload the likes of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Jadon Sancho, they will be able to use the funds generated from those sales to try and attain the striker they are looking for.
However, there is currently no obvious answer to their striker search, meaning the situation is appearing unlikely to be resolved ahead of the pre-season tour.
Not for the first time in recent years, United's primary transfer mission is shaping up to be the hardest to solve.