Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney could not have been clearer with his feelings over one striker who is now linked with Ruben Amorim’s side.
Ruben Amorim watched first-hand at Old Trafford the Red Devils fall short in the final third last season and Manchester United were toothless in times with their attacking quality.
The 40-year-old United manager had to rely on Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee to lead the frontline, both of whom disappointed as the lone striker in attack.
Rasmus Hojlund has been linked with Inter Milan this summer, but the 22-year-old United and Denmark striker could remain at Old Trafford for the new season.
The Denmark international managed to score 10 times and picked up four assists in 52 appearances across all competitions in the 2024-25 campaign at Old Trafford.
Joshua Zirkzee, much like Hojlund, underperformed last season and the 22-year-old forward netted seven times and registered three assists in 49 matches for United.
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Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney as an Amazon Prime Video pundit ahead of the Champions League match between PSV Eindhoven and Arsenal at the Philips Stadion in 2025 in the Netherlands.
Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images
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What Man Utd icon Wayne Rooney spotted from former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin should be on Ruben Amorim’s radar
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has become a free agent this summer after his contract with Everton expired in June and he left Goodison Park after nine years at the club.
The 28-year-old former Everton striker played in 26 matches in his final season at the Toffees and Dominic Calvert-Lewin found the back of the net only three times.
Calvert-Lewin has been linked with Manchester United after he became a free agent and the Red Devils have been exploring striking options in the transfer window.
The ex-England international had been at Goodison Park since 2016 after Everton landed the United-linked player for a £1.5m transfer fee from Sheffield United.
Wayne Rooney returned to boyhood club Everton in 2017 after his legendary United spell ended and the Red Devils icon shared the dressing room with Calvert-Lewin.
The 39-year-old former United striker praised the qualities that Calvert-Lewin possessed as a player, but Rooney was critical of his “chances” in the final third.
“Dominic always had it in him and the big question mark was whether he could score consistently enough, but now that is coming through game time,” Rooney said in his column for The Sunday Times in 2020.
“When I returned to Everton he was entering his second season with the club. I looked at him in training and thought ‘he has everything.’
“He was quick, strong, good in the air. His only downfall was he was snatching at chances but he was already working hard to correct that and Duncan Ferguson deserves a lot of credit because Duncan would always stay with him after training and give him finishing drills.”
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Ruben Amorim’s transfer decision over Dominic Calvert-Lewin should be made easier after the remarks from Wayne Rooney
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has struggled with injuries during his spell at Goodison Park and the prospect of a free transfer would sound appealing for some out there.
However, the assessment of United legend Rooney back in 2020 has only proven that Ruben Amorim should not consider rolling the dice with a transfer.
Calvert-Lewin might only be 28 years old, but the ex-Everton and England star has now shown enough to suggest that he has overcome the critique that Rooney made.
Amorim was already left with the woes of Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund in the 2024-25 season, with neither player stepping up as a clinical finisher for United.
United and Amorim would make the right call by listening to Rooney’s assessment of Calvert-Lewin and seeing that the free agent is a risky investment to make now.