I think basically any young forward doing a decent job in the PL will cost silly money unless there's a release clause or contract running down.
Everton paid £50m for Richarlison from Watford, who had a pretty similar profile at the time.
Striker options?
- Thread starter Messier1994
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I think basically any young forward doing a decent job in the PL will cost silly money unless there's a release clause or contract running down.
Everton paid £50m for Richarlison from Watford, who had a pretty similar profile at the time.
Yeah you might be right. I still think he would be much cheaper than Toney or Watkins, as examples.
And while he might be more expensive than a similarly aged player from outside England, we wouldn't have to worry about getting used to a new league etc.
And while he might be more expensive than a similarly aged player from outside England, we wouldn't have to worry about getting used to a new league etc.
Rumours of United being interested in Victor Osimhen for €110m(£94m) or J Neves for €100m(£85m) is never going to happen for both but recently United getting involved in this and media saying they will possibly one marquee deal.
If so this is a no brainer if Osimhen is;
1. Available for £94m
2. Wants to come
3. Rumoured to be a United fan and great friends with O Igalho
4. United are huge in Nigeria
if all this is potentially true then we should learn from last year where the club messed up with Harry Kane and go buy a 25 year old goal gluten, with Osimhen and Hojlumd united will finally terrorise PL defences.
There is some recent coverage of this in the media but how much truth is anybody’s guess, if Osimhen wants to come to PL and not PSG then we must do this deal before any other this summer.
United have failed to score goals consistently now for over 1 year in the PL, let’s make sure we have 5/6 elite options that can all hot double figures for next season, we need goals and yes we need full backs and midfielders who create more goal opportunities, but missing out on a 20/25 goal a season elite striker would be very naive this summer?
If so this is a no brainer if Osimhen is;
1. Available for £94m
2. Wants to come
3. Rumoured to be a United fan and great friends with O Igalho
4. United are huge in Nigeria
if all this is potentially true then we should learn from last year where the club messed up with Harry Kane and go buy a 25 year old goal gluten, with Osimhen and Hojlumd united will finally terrorise PL defences.
There is some recent coverage of this in the media but how much truth is anybody’s guess, if Osimhen wants to come to PL and not PSG then we must do this deal before any other this summer.
United have failed to score goals consistently now for over 1 year in the PL, let’s make sure we have 5/6 elite options that can all hot double figures for next season, we need goals and yes we need full backs and midfielders who create more goal opportunities, but missing out on a 20/25 goal a season elite striker would be very naive this summer?
That would be awesome. Osimh IN.
Considering there isn't going to be a Julian Alvarez type of player available for less than 25m, I'd assume we will go for another cheap striker over the age of 30. Might not turn out to be the worst decision if Hojlund can stay fit for most of next season.
I would love us to get Ollie Watkins. He’d gel so well with our wide players and has pace to burn but sadly I fear it will never happen. Be expensive and tricky to get him out of Villa.
Dont be sad, we have Hojlund.
Maybe if we brought in Inzaghi and deployed a striking partnership but outside of that it’d make no sense chasing Martinez who;
1) By all accounts loves it at Inter and will be reluctant to move, especially without a clear starting berth.
2) Will require a massive outlay creating a luxury option in attack (again) whilst we’ll still require extensive investment in both defence and midfield departments.
The reasonable thing to do would be to look at options who can compete with and/or be a competent deputy for Højlund whilst also being low cost enough to allow us to spread investment to other areas of the team that need improvement.
The reasonable thing would be to target players like Sesko, David, Zirkzee, Guirassy, Boniface, Dovbyk etc.
Joao Pedro would be my choice. Probably be a fairly hefty fee.
He doesn't get talked about much but I think he has genuine world class potential. He can play every role in the front line from back-to-goal 9 to either wide position. Brilliant ball carrier, creative passer, good in the air and already one of the best pressers in the league. He's a very polished all rounder for being 22 but I still think there's a load of improvement in him.
I like Cunha too for similar reasons but I don't think he has close to the upside Joao Pedro does.
He doesn't get talked about much but I think he has genuine world class potential. He can play every role in the front line from back-to-goal 9 to either wide position. Brilliant ball carrier, creative passer, good in the air and already one of the best pressers in the league. He's a very polished all rounder for being 22 but I still think there's a load of improvement in him.
I like Cunha too for similar reasons but I don't think he has close to the upside Joao Pedro does.
We need a sensible buy. Don‘t go for Osimhen or Kane but get a younger striker or an experienced backup for Hojlund.
We need to spend big on a cb and dm, can‘t do it all at once (unless you‘re Cheaty FC).
We need to spend big on a cb and dm, can‘t do it all at once (unless you‘re Cheaty FC).
Hojlund potential ceiling is higher than Watkins, however well he’s playing this season but Villa would want £80-100m for 28-29 year old when 25 year old Osimhen is the same value?
I've posted this elsewhere (hidden gems thread maybe) but I'm convinced Plymouth's Morgan Whittaker is someone we should be considering as Hojlund competition this Summer. 19 goals and 8 assists this season, mostly from the right wing or number 10 position. However, he's 6 foot 2 and developing his physicality so I can see him developing as a striker. Ollie Watkins, for comparison sake, played mostly as a left winger for Brentford in 17/18 in the Championship and scored 11 goals at basically the same age. Lazio were apparently in for Whittaker in January but it didn't happen. I can imagine he'll go for £20m/£25m which is arguably steep for a Championship player but could ultimately prove excellent value as the striker market, especially for backup options, is not exactly brimming with good value options.
I still think Sesko will be a monster in a couple of years and his release clause makes him tempting but I can't see him settling for a rotation role. Whittaker arguably will, especially as he can play other positions.
I still think Sesko will be a monster in a couple of years and his release clause makes him tempting but I can't see him settling for a rotation role. Whittaker arguably will, especially as he can play other positions.
Not sure I agree Oshimen is clever. One thing is the fee (and you can probably add a high agent fee on top). He will also demand high wages. Probably £3-400k a week.
Furthermore, he has been prone to injuries. He is 26 this year and he has not had more than one really good season, 30 goals/assist in Serie A in 22/23. Apart from 22/23, his best tally was 17 goals/assist in 19/20. And he has played at a significantly lower level than the PL. Often for a dominant, attacking team.
I feel a marque striker-signing is something you do to put the cherry on top.
I would prefer Man Utd to sign someone like Solanke. Proven in the PL. Very consistent. Very talented. Hard-working. Rarely injured. And probably alot cheaper overall (he is currently on approx £50k a week).
I’d forgot all about Whittaker and yes you’re right, he’s definitely one to take a punt on as he could turn into another Watkins and definitely see more of a striker in him in the long term.
He’s still in his early 20’s but has an eye for goal and is often in a centre forward position rather than a traditional right sided attacker or a 10, has a fantastic left foot, very good finisher, very quick, strong, good awareness, good movement off the ball and most of all wouldn’t likely cost more than £10 million.
Is Pavlidis good? Transfermarkt says only one year left on his deal, so not that expensive?
For sure. It also makes sense if the rumours are correct that we could be selling/releasing a few homegrown players. I know that the "INEOS want to buy British" talk has been met with a few sniggers and "Brexit FC" comments here. Buying British players in the PL is typically very expensive. However, there's some good bargains to be found in the Championship so I can see this being a market we target, especially for squad fillers (i.e. Whittaker, Jacob Greaves as Martinez's backup etc). It's possibly become an underrated market to shop from and there's some snobbery about it amongst some quarters, which is naïve historically.
Osimhen is not good enough. We should stay away.
Kind of feel we want someone with a different skillset to Hojlund, more of a 10 and someone who will drop in and be able to play quick 1 touch like Lautoro Martinez.
I also like the look of Ronnie Edwards at Peterborough who we were interested in a couple of years ago, there's potentially some very good young players in the lower leagues and we never used to be afraid to take a punt on them and coach them to fulfilling that potential.
Apparently, but good enough for us? I don‘t know. Then there is Gimenez, who lost his form at Feyenoord.
We did great with Hojlund; we just need to keep going for players like that. Young players with character and high potential. Instead of breaking the bank for a 31 year old.
Well, about options at striker, Bruno Petković seems to be on the radar of Manchester United scouts. Apparently they watched him live during the first leg of the Dinamo Zagreb - PAOK tie. As a backup option, he could prove to be extremely useful.
I would prefer to go for a younger player if we have the option because he's 29 already and personally I've had enough of players in that age range because they're too close to the end of their career and declining+
I imagine to myself that we don't want to replace him in the next 1 or 2 years. I think it will be better if we go for a player between the ages of 26-28 and more of an extended period to replace other positions that are needed and after a few years to replace the striker.
We could do worse than bringing Lukaku back tbh. He’s what, 30 now? Chelsea would likely shop him for cheap, and he would be an experienced alternative to Hojlund.
Just no.
31. Depends on cost.
Played regular senior football for close to 15 years. Probably played 50 000 min of senior football? 100 kg +. Dont look athletic like Zlatan either. Getting more frequently injured. Dont press. Will continue to lose pace. Sulky.
His numbers have been declining every year too since that one great season at Inter under Conte. And he really dont offer much besides goal.
Actually, I dont think it depends on cost when I consider it. Lukaku would be pointless unless basically free and at very low wages. And we should be able to get a striker with a higher cost and quality.
Based 99% on heart and instinct rather than any actual scouting or knowledge, I just get the feeling Sesko will be tearing up the PL in a couple of years time.
Pavlidis would be a good 3rd choice striker. Or a backup in the bottom half. His record with the national team is not really good. He seems more like someone who can succeed at the Eredivise level, but I doubt he can be a reliable top 6 player backup player.
For Greek players I would suggest Vagianidis (RB) and Konstantelias (Am).
Wouldn't be mad at a young Championship punt that can also play RW.
An impressive display of center forward play today against Spurs. If he keeps up this form he might be a 70M player this summer.
I wonder if he has a reasonable release clause.
Totally agree. I think someone like Haaland has changed expectations for young centre forwards. He’s stormed out of the gates and never looked back, besides a minor recurring injury at Dortmund.
Typically, centre forwards tend to really excel from mid 20s onwards. I think some people have soured on Sesko due to his slightly underwhelming season at Leipzig so far. But, for me, he has all the attributes needed to be a beast. He just needs time and seasoning. I also think this of Hojlund.
I would love Hojlund and Sesko but I don’t think it’s gonna happen. I see Sesko going to Arsenal or Chelsea as their main striker and becoming one of the best in the Prem, rivalling Haaland, Hojlund and eventually Evan Ferguson perhaps.
Slightly underwhelming... it's just what you often have to expect when a player moves to a better league. Like you said Haaland might have shifted expectations a bit.
Nonetheless Sesko already effectively pushed Timo Werner out of Leipzig.
How’s that young kid at RB Salzburg (Konate ?) doing ? I remember a bit of hype around him when Sesko to RB Leipzig was announced.
They have a good history of strikers with Haaland, Hojlund, Sesko and I think a couple more over the years and they’re a selling club who don’t overvalue players so if he’s doing well maybe he could be brought in to alternate with Hojlund.
They have a good history of strikers with Haaland, Hojlund, Sesko and I think a couple more over the years and they’re a selling club who don’t overvalue players so if he’s doing well maybe he could be brought in to alternate with Hojlund.
I agree. That fellow presses like a demon
Højlund has never been at RB Salzburg though. The Austrian league however...
Yep. Seeing him in action, United fans will realise how Martial and Rashford are in fact workhorses.
As i said once for Bruno; skill 20, work rate 0.
Sarcasm?
22 goals and 7 assists this season and his contract runs out next summer so he shouldn't cost an arm and a leg like another PL striker.
Would love for us to look into him and possibly bringing back Angel Gomes from there too
I can't comment on the specific player but it does make sense to try to get ahead of the next Watkins/Toney/Solanke/Callum Wilson Championship star striker edge of the England team while they cost 20-30M and not 50-60M, considering our need for a backup to Hojlund.
Or sign a guy in the first half of his 20s scoring a ton of goals in a weaker league for cheap. Here's the Golden Boot list:
https://www.transfermarkt.us/statistik/goldenerschuh
Haven't seen any of these guys, but worth a look I'd imagine if we're looking to spend big elsewhere and hope to find a Chicharito, which Brentford just did in paying 30M for Igor Thiago and lots of French teams seem to have done judging by this list (Marseille, Montpellier, Lille and Lorient all signed guys on this list who fit that description that I'd never heard of). The guys who stick out as not having made a big move yet:
-Saldanha, 24 year old Brazilian at Belgrade
-Mujica, 25 year old Spaniard at Arouca which apparently is in the Portuguse league