Head Coach Ruben Amorim of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at Carrington Training Ground on March 28, 2025 in Manchester, England.Head Coach Ruben Amorim of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at Carrington Training Ground on March 28, 2025 in Manchester, England.
Head Coach Ruben Amorim of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at Carrington Training Ground on March 28, 2025 in Manchester, England. | Manchester United via Getty Imag
Manchester United transfer news as the Red Devils are linked with a new striker
It is no secret that Manchester United are on the hunt for a new striker this summer amid poor returns from Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee in front of goal this season.
Zirkzee has scored six goals and provided three assists in all competitions while Hojlund has netted eight times while providing four assists. The latter had been on a long goal-scoring drought before ending that with a goal against Leicester City before the international break. He then took that form into the international break as he scored for Denmark in their eventual Nations League exit to Portugal.
However, a new striker is a priority for United this summer and a host of names have been linked with a move to Old Trafford. The Red Devils are required to sell before they can buy this summer and Hojlund has recently been linked with a return to Italy while clubs in Germany are also said to be showing an interest in the player.
Lorenzo Lucca emerges as Man United target - but Napoli and West Ham also interested
Udinese striker Lorenzo Lucca is attracting interest from the Red Devils, along with Napoli and West Ham. That is per a report from Tuttomercato, who claim the 24-year-old Italian would cost €35million this summer.
The striker stands at a towering 6ft 7in and has 10 goals in 29 Serie A games for Udinese this campaign. He also has two goals in three Coppa Italia games. Udinese teammate Maduka Okoye lavished praise on him earlier this season, branding the player as a “top-level striker” and “very special player”. He was also tipped him to be Italy’s future number nine, as Okoye gave an interview on the Italian Football Podcast back in September.
The player’s €35m price tag would certainly be more affordable for United, who have been linked with the likes of Viktor Gyökeres and Victor Osimhen but both strikers will cost north of £60m.
Manchester United hold edge in race for Hugo Ekitike
Hugo Ekitike has also been linked with the Red Devils but he is another player who will come at a much higher price, also mooted to be around £60m. Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle United have also been credited with an interest in the player who has shone for Eintracht Frankfurt this season.
Liverpool and Arsenal will play Champions League football next season while Newcastle are also in the race for a place in Europe’s elite competition. The Red Devils can still qualify for next season’s Champions League by winning the Europa League.
However, according to an intriguing update from The Mirror - United hold a unique advantage in the race for the player. They have claimed that Ekitike is a boyhood fan of the Red Devils, which could make convincing the striker to move to Old Trafford slightly easier and help combat the lure of Champions League football that United’s rivals can offer. Whether it can make a major difference in a potential move remains to be seen.