Manchester United continue to examine their options on the market for the striker role, as Dusan Vlahovic remains on the watchlist.
The Red Devils revamped their attack last summer by buying Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko for a combined £200 million.
But while this year’s priority is to reboot the midfield, they’re still expected to address their frontline, especially if Joshua Zirkzee ends up leaving the club.
Dusan Vlahovic still on Man Utd shortlist?
Earlier this week, The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell reported that United are still planning to make three more signings before the end of the summer: A third midfielder to follow Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, a left-back, and an attacker who can take some of the burden off Sesko’s shoulders.
The club is currently being linked with a plethora of midfielders, while Lewis Hall is the ultimate target for the full-back role. On the contrary, the identity of Man Utd’s next striker remains shrouded in mystery.
In his latest post on The i Paper, MUFC correspondent Pete Hall discussed the situation, revealing which strikers the club could pursue after missing out on Danny Welbeck, who is on the verge of signing for Chelsea.
The source mentions Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, who was a top target for the club last summer, with Ruben Amorim prioritising Premier League-proven players, as well as Vlahovic, who is currently available on a free transfer after seeing out his Juventus contract.
The 26-year-old Serbian is being linked with Barcelona, as well as a host of Turkish clubs. But with his options wide open, Jason Wilcox and Co. still have time to enter the fray, as none of his suitors has made a decisive move.
Why Vlahovic isn’t the ideal Man United candidate
Vlahovic is a classic No.9 blessed with a strong physique and an imposing presence in the middle of the park. In 221 appearances in Serie A for Fiorentina and Juventus, he bagged 94 goals.
At the age of 26, the Serbian international is theoretically set for the best years of his career. And yet, he might not necessarily be the ideal solution for Man Utd.
First of all, Vlahovic’s arrival should be a costly operation, despite the ‘free transfer’ tag. The striker was the highest-paid player in the Italian top flight, earning a net salary of €12 million in his last year in Turin, while his entourage is expecting a sizable signing-on bonus and commissions.
Vlahovic’s Stats by Club Appearances Goals Assists
Partizan 27 3 1
Fiorentina 108 49 8
Juventus 168 68 16
Moreover, the centre-forward’s development hasn’t exactly gone according to plan. When Juventus splashed €85 million (circa £73 million) to buy him in January 2022, he was considered the best-rising striker in Europe not named Erling Haaland. However, he hasn’t been able to fulfil his early promise or justify his hefty transfer fee, partially due to recurring injury problems.
Finally, Vlahovic is arguably a bit too similar to Sesko, so Man Utd should ideally sign a striker who can coexist with the Slovenian in the same lineup or at least offer a different skill set, rather than someone who would simply alternate with the 23-year-old.
Michel is a football journalist based in Beirut who has been passionately following Man United for over 20 years. He is a Law graduate and a member of the Beirut Bar Association. In addition to writing for Utd Report, he is also the Head Writer for The Laziali has been a Featured Writer on other websites including Juve FC, and The Cult of Calcio, and Stretty News.
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