Reports suggest that Manchester United executives have privately admitted the club will likely start the new season without signing a new striker.
United may enter the new campaign without a fresh forward, as they struggle to compete with other Premier League rivals in the transfer market. On the day Marcus Rashford left Old Trafford on loan to Barcelona, sources claimed United’s hierarchy believes Rúben Amorim’s side could still lack a new frontman when they face Arsenal in next month’s opening round of the new season.
United have spent over £130 million on Brentford striker Bryan Mbeumo and Wolves forward Matheus Cunha this summer, but both are expected to operate in the two No. 10 roles within Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation.
The Portuguese manager also wanted a new striker with Premier League experience, but United failed to land their top summer target, England international Tom Cannon, who opted to join Chelsea. Their other two targets, Benjamin Šeško and Hugo Ekitike, moved to Arsenal and Liverpool respectively.
United are trying to raise funds by selling players and have been linked with several forwards, including Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani, Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Šeško, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who became a free agent after his Everton contract expired this summer.
Despite United signing Mbeumo this week, along with Cunha’s arrival, club executives admit a new striker may not arrive before the season starts.
Another option could be a player swap with Chelsea involving Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho and the Blues’ Senegalese forward Nicolas Jackson.
