Manchester United are in the market for a new number nine this summer, but things are not going to plan so far.
The 2024-25 season is over, and Manchester United are in desperate need of reinforcements.
With four big signings expected at United, there is already progress being made to bolster the biggest weakness the Red Devils have.
The deal to sign Matheus Cunha from Wolves is imminent, which adds a Brazilian who scored 15 Premier League goals last season in a poor Wolves team.
In addition, United are keen to sign Bryan Mbeumo, which would give Ruben Amorim a pair of number 10s among the very best in the league.
However, it would still leave United weak in the striker position.
Photo by Ralf Ibing - firo sportphoto/Getty Images
Photo by Ralf Ibing – firo sportphoto/Getty Images
Manchester United should consider signing Patrik Schick
Signing a number nine remains high on the priority list for United, despite top targets becoming increasingly unlikely.
Amorim’s number one choice, Viktor Gyokeres, is off the table for United. While a move for Liam Delap is being cast into doubt with Chelsea offering Champions League football.
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This will leave United having to look elsewhere, with Jean-Philippe Mateta considered an option by Ineos; however, with Crystal Palace in Europe, it could prove an extortionate deal.
Therefore, United should be looking at Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick as an option.
Schick has already been linked with United this year, and after scoring 21 league goals in the Bundesliga, has proven his clinical scoring acumen. Schick has a ‘goalscoring gene’ as Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes admitted, as quoted by the Bundesliga website.
Standing at 6’6″ tall, the Czech Republic international has the physical qualities that Amorim demands of his strikers; however, that could make the deal more difficult due to one man.
Erik ten Hag will be desperate to keep Schick at Bayer Leverkusen
While Schick would be a brilliant option up front for United, we can be sure that the new Bayer Leverkusen manager, Erik ten Hag, will be desperate to retain Schick, who was labelled “one of the best centre-forwards in the world” by former Leverkusen CEO Rudi Voller.
Leverkusen have already lost Jeremie Frimpong and are also expected to sell Florian Wirtz, with £162m roughly being generated from these two sales if the price tags are correct.
Therefore, Ten Hag won’t want to lose any other players this summer, never mind losing a striker with such perfect qualities for the former United boss, who likes his number nine to be big and strong.
It would take some effort for United to get this deal done, but it could end up being a more likely move than any others.
This would definitely be a target to consider, but how likely it is remains to be seen.