Manchester United players celebrate at Old Trafford
Manchester United players celebrate at Old Trafford
If Manchester United supporters and critics had their way, Ineos and Ruben Amorim would be focusing most of their efforts on the centre-forward position this summer.
Matheus Cunha joined on the opening day of the transfer window to add further depth to the No.10 position. He now looks likely to be joined by Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo, albeit Tottenham Hotspur may yet have something to say about that should the appoint Thomas Frank following the sacking of Ange Postecoglou.
Should the Cameroonian move to Old Trafford, the logical next step would be to sign a No.9. Even taking into account the lack of goals from strikers this season, United have been short on centre-forwards and there has been a severe lack of options in that position leading to speculation that the Reds will make a £60m approach for Viktor Gyokeres.
With this in mind and the desire rooted in the club to avoid big spending this summer, MEN Sport has analysed the players currently available to Amorim in that position who may be able to change his mind.
Rasmus Hojlund
The current first choice spearheading the attack is Hojlund. He managed just four goals in the Premier League this season and having drawn another blank in the defeat to ASEAN All-Stars, Amorim insisted that perhaps a summer break could reset the forward for the challenge next season.
"Sometimes, you can overthink the situation," he told press in Malaysia. "Sometimes, you go to holidays and arrive on the first day now to start for a new season and even the environment in the changing ground can help a player get a different confidence.
"That is our expectation. Like I said, if you look at all the data, we have improved in the last games but we have a lack of goals.
"We will try to assess that and be prepared for that first game in the Premier League." Hojlund seems to have just over a month before United's first pre-season fixture to persuade Amorim that he is the right man for the job.
Joshua Zirkzee
Hojlund's back-up for much of the season but, in the time he was on the pitch after the Newcastle debacle, Zirkzee proved to be a bigger threat than the Dane. Is he the answer at centre-forward? Perhaps not.
Zirkzee looked much more comfortable in the No.10 position and considering the desire to rotate in modern football, you imagine he will still get game time there even with Cunha and potentially Mbeumo at the club.
Chido Obi
The youngster from Arsenal was given his chance prematurely this season due to injuries and departures. There is certainly plenty of potential in Obi and clearly Amorim thinks highly of him to trust him in the Premier League.
However, over-exposure to the first-team is unlikely to benefit him in the long-term. It is likely that Amorim will want to see Obi continuing to flourish for the academy next season.
Chido Obi celebrates scoring for Manchester United against Hong Kong (Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)
Bruno Fernandes
He was United's biggest goal threat this season and has confirmed he will be staying in Manchester next season. However, Fernandes very rarely plays in the centre-forward role as a false nine.
His performance against Manchester City in the FA Cup final in that position will live long in the memory and there are worse options out there to play in that role. With the No.10 position strengthening, perhaps United could utilise Fernandes up top more often next season.
Kobbie Mainoo
Amorim experimented with Mainoo as a false nine and while the youngster will always give his all, this is not the position for him. It is starting to become worrying that this new-look United under their Portuguese head coach does not have a way of fitting him into their system.
Central midfield or as a No.10 is where Mainoo flourishes but it appears Amorim prefers a winger in that role instead. Deeper does not fit his repetoire either and with the reality of Financial Fair Play (FFP) evident, perhaps selling him for a huge profit may start to look enticing for the Reds' head coach.
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