Manchester United’s pursuit of a new striker this summer has passed through several names already.
The desire to sign a new number nine has long been held at Old Trafford.
Last season, Manchester United had a lot of problems but scoring goals was arguably the biggest issue of the lot and therefore the clear plan this summer was to add goals.
Rasmus Hojlund was misfiring all campaign long, while Joshua Zirkzee didn’t resemble a striker with Ruben Amorim instead using him in the number 10.
This has led to several striker targets considered by United, with the club struggling to secure top targets.
Liam Delap rejected United for Chelsea with the Englishman considered Ineos’ top target this summer up front. Now, we are over a month on from this rejection and the club remain without a solution to the number nine position.
Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson in action against LAFC at the Club World Cup.
Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
United are still focusing on a fruitless pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo, meanwhile, all the clubs top targets in the number nine position are disappearing.
This leaves United with a poor crop of strikers to mull over, and now one of Chelsea’s several forwards has been offered to the club, as United in Focus understand after speaking with football correspondent Graeme Bailey.
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Speaking Exclusively with United in Focus, Bailey explains that Nicolas Jackson has been offered to United two years after he cost Chelsea £30m.
“Jackson and his people are concerned by Chelsea’s summer business, arguably he you could imagine him as third choice number nine.
“With this his people and intermediaries have been in contact with a host of clubs – United included. They are gauging interest and possible opportunities.
“United have been made aware and are keeping tabs on the situation.”
Bailey added that despite Chelsea being open to selling, Jackson wouldn’t come cheaply for United.
Nicolas Jackson wouldn’t represent upgrade for Manchester United
While a striker is needed this summer, United don’t have the funds to afford to spend big on a player who is no better than current options.
Nicolas Jackson has a reported price tag of £100m, which is surely not accurate with the Senegal international worth a fraction of this much. A fair market value of the forward would be £30m or so, meaning United simply cannot pursue this move.
Last season, Jackson scored just 13 goals in all competitions, which is only three more than Hojlund managed in a much worse team.
Jackson is no better and potentially worse than the striker options currently at Amorim’s disposal and therefore this move would be a terrible idea for Ineos, with fans likely to be displeased.