Man Utd would like to strengthen their attack, with Benjamin Sesko currently their only senior recognised striker in the squad.
Nicolo Tresoldi was prolific for Club Brugge last season.(Image: Belgaimage)
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When Nicolo Tresoldi's name was put to a Manchester United staff member recently, they admitted they hadn't heard of him, but that doesn't mean Tresoldi has not made the data department's long list of potential striker targets.
Belgian sources have claimed United are tracking the Club Brugge forward, who has the kind of profile that United's data department admire.
Tresoldi was the top goalscorer in the Belgian top flight last season. He contributed 23 goals and nine assists in all competitions. He will only turn 22 next month and seems destined for a move to a big European club.
Of course, the Jupiler Pro League isn't at the same level as the Premier League, but Tresoldi proved that he could cut it in the Champions League by scoring goals against Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Monaco.
United's last signing from the division, Senne Lammens, was a huge success. United's chief goalkeeping scout, Tony Coton, initially recommended Lammens and the data department approved having assessed his numbers.
Belgium's champions Club Brugge do not want to lose Tresoldi this summer. However, Roma are said to have submitted a bid worth up to €35m (£29m), and the local press believes the player's head could be turned before the transfer deadline.
United are in a position to better Roma's offer. The Reds could offer Brugge a more favourable financial package, with more money up front and potential add-ons, without breaking the bank for the forward.
It feels likely that an up-front bid of around £35m would be enough to prise Tresoldi away from Brugge. United need a backup striker, and he is the type of player the club should be seriously considering in this window.
United's new recruitment strategy is centred on identifying market value. The club want to sign talent before they become £100m players, and Tresoldi fits the bill as his valuation could rocket in the next few years.
Tresoldi attracted attention when playing for Germany at the Under-21 European Championship last year, and his performances for Brugge were so good that he almost made the Germany squad for this summer's World Cup.
"Nicolo Tresoldi was very, very close to making the squad. He's not a classic target man, but a classic striker," Julian Nagelsmann said. "He was extremely close, but ultimately he didn't make the squad because we would have had to leave someone else out. That's not easy."
Nagelsmann added that Tresoldi's chance would come. The forward was born in Italy and moved to Germany at 13 to play for Hannover's academy, which is why he's eligible to play for Germany's national team.
Tresoldi pictured last year at the U21 Euros.(Image: 2025 UEFA)
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United are considering their options in the striker market, but the expectation is that there will be movement to strengthen in that position near the end of the transfer window.
Benjamin Sesko can not go next season as the only senior recognised striker at United when there could be 60-plus games to play. Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and Matheus Cunha are options to play down the middle, but they are not strikers.
Joshua Zirkzee is also not a striker. Zirkzee has started up front in the opening two pre-season matches, and he has spent more time dropping back to link up play with his teammates than making runs into the opposition box.
Tresoldi is a proper centre-forward. He is 6ft 1in, his movement is intelligent, and he's a ruthless finisher, with the majority of the goals he scored for Brugge, which fired them to the title, having been netted from inside the box.
The pitch to Tresoldi would be straightforward: join the biggest club in England and compete for starts with Sesko as a squad is built to win the Premier League during Michael Carrick's tenure. There will be enough minutes to share.
United have been encouraged by supporters to make a late bid for Danny Welbeck following the news that Chelsea are in advanced talks to sign him. Welbeck would be a brilliant stopgap signing for next season, but Carrick is going to need longer at the helm to win the title.
That's why signing a younger striker this summer, someone who has their best years ahead of them like Tresoldi, makes a great deal of sense.
Not many have heard about Tresoldi, but his career trajectory suggests that is about to change.