Jason Wilcox Man Utd sporting director, United in Focus exclusive on mystery player
Jason Wilcox Man Utd sporting director, United in Focus exclusive on mystery player
Manchester United’s striker search might not have resulted in a signing so far but an exclusive insight into their work has thrown up an under-the-radar £20m option.
The striker search at Old Trafford had a spanner thrown into the works after Liam Delap rejected United in favour of Chelsea.
His £30m release clause, age profile, and Premier League suitability made him an ideal candidate for United but he joined Chelsea.
Since then, players like Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Jonathan Burkardt, and more have been linked to the club.
United in Focus can exclusively reveal some insight into the club’s transfer search, including a £20m option that hasn’t been talked about much.
Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images
Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images
Man Utd’s striker transfer targets
It is reassuring that despite signing players with a combined goals and assists value of 49 with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, the club’s striker signing remains a priority.
Jason Wilcox has become the club’s director of football so there’s clarity in the executive structure as well, something that wasn’t present last summer or in January.
Along with recruitment director Christopher Vivell, Wilcox has started giving shape to United’s transfer window.
READ:Who is Christopher Vivell? Everything you need to know
United in Focus can exclusively reveal, after speaking to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, that the pair are on top of every available striker in Europe, and many have been offered to the club.
These include names like Moise Kean and Tammy Abraham, while Juventus’ £20m striker Dusan Vlahovic is an attractive option due to his price tag.
Bailey says: “I am told Amorim and Wilcox have a good relationship, Wilcox played a role in bringing him in – there is a trust there. As we know the push for Liam Delap, caused a divide, not everyone agreed but Wilcox is aiming to get this striker decision right.
“Amorim wants that integral figure to lead the line and Wilcox wants to deliver that. Amorim’s former charge Viktor Gyokeres is on their radar and talks have been held, as they have been for Victor Osimhen too – who has turned down Saudi Arabia, as he is keen on England.
“I am also told not to discount Dusan Vlahovic – the appeal of him is that he could move for just £20million this summer.
“But there are numerous players that have been offered to United – Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta, Tammy Abraham, Moise Kean, Jonathan Burkardt – they have all been mentioned. There is not an available striker in Europe, that Wilcox and Vivell are not aware of.”
Dusan Vlahovic can be a good option but there’s one issue
United are clearly approaching this striker search with an air of confidence and competence, which hasn’t been the case under the Glazers for many years.
If a player like Vlahovic is available for just £20 million, then United would be foolish to not explore the conditions of the deal, so it’s a positive that they are.
However, sometimes a deal can be too good to be true which might be the case here.
Vlahovic for £20m is a good opportunity but it might only be because the player’s wages would be high, as is the case with Jadon Sancho at Old Trafford.
United will then have to take a call because a player they bought for big money can still be shifted later provided the wages are palatable, but the opposite is not true.
Ultimately, the striker search is not a place where United can cut corners, and it’s good to see that the due diligence is being done to get a major position right.