Man Utd's Hunt for Goals: Six Premier League-Proven Strikers Who Could Transform Their Attack
Manchester United are in pursuit of a new striker. In related news, the sky is blue.
The Red Devils have been scouring the market globally for their next prolific goalscorer, with numerous connections to familiar names: Viktor Gyökeres, Victor Osimhen, Benjamin Šeško—among many others.
As time progresses, United seem to be expanding their search parameters even further. Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins has been mentioned as a potential target, and reports have even suggested former Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin as a viable candidate. Should United choose to think outside the box, there exists a substantial pool of strikers deserving attention from the decision-makers at Old Trafford.
Below are six prospective targets for United during the remaining transfer period.
Mateo Retegui
Ah, another striker from Atalanta. What's the worst that could happen?
United invested in promise when they acquired Rasmus Højlund from the Serie A club in a transaction valued at up to £72 million ($98.2 million) in 2023. The Red Devils had observed him netting 10 goals in 34 appearances during the prior campaign and chose to make their move. Mateo Retegui, by contrast, just recorded 28 goals in his inaugural season with Atalanta.
A virtual unknown while competing in Argentina merely two years prior, Retegui has conquered Europe since his transfer. The 26-year-old has demonstrated clinical precision in front of goal and an intriguing blend of abilities that have resulted in both goals and assists during his two seasons in Italy.
Though Retegui excels with his positioning, combination play and surprising aerial ability, his standout quality is his clinical finishing. The player simply finds the net consistently—it's that straightforward. There's no period of waiting and hoping for improvement. He's already delivering.
Serhou Guirassy
Talent evaluators throughout Europe have observed Serhou Guirassy scoring prolifically for several seasons. He's been securing transfers—four different clubs over six years—but seems to have finally captured elite attention through his stint with Borussia Dortmund.
A treble against Barcelona helped Guirassy conclude as this campaign's joint-leading Champions League scorer with 13 goals which, combined with 21 in the Bundesliga and four at the Club World Cup, brings his tally to 38 in 50 matches across all tournaments. Such numbers cannot be overlooked.
At 29 years of age, there's an evident concern when proposing a costly acquisition of Guirassy. He doesn't align with United's reconstruction timeline, but this shouldn't pose a problem. They require a goalscorer—someone capable of simply converting chances, similar to a Robert Lewandowski or Harry Kane who, incidentally, continue scoring prolifically despite their advancing age.
Guirassy isn't a marquee signing and won't create the excitement typically associated with United's acquisitions, but perhaps that's beneficial. He allows his performance to speak for itself.
Vangelis Pavlidis
Vangelis Pavlidis is, similar to Guirassy, another forward who avoids the limelight. Following four consistent seasons in the Eredivisie, he flourished with 33 goals in 46 matches for AZ Alkmaar in 2023–24 and secured a €20 million (£17.3 million, $23.6 million) transfer to Benfica.
Throughout his Portuguese tenure, Pavlidis has not only impressed with his output of 30 goals and 13 assists in his debut campaign, but the style in which he's accumulated these statistics has been remarkable.
Pavlidis offers nearly everything. He's a scoring machine, an energetic runner, an aerial danger and a creative threat with the physical attributes typically required for Premier League competition. The 26-year-old is equally comfortable operating wide as he is holding possession against defenders or powering through toward goal. Pavlidis would serve as United's main striker but would excel rotating alongside Matheus Cunha and, presumably, Bryan Mbeumo.
Benfica understand Pavlidis's value, as he carries a release clause of €100 million (£86.3 million, $117.8 million). Negotiating with Benfica is never straightforward, but in this instance, any attempts would prove extremely valuable.
Simon Banza
The imposing Simon Banza can appear somewhat unrefined occasionally which, approaching 29 years old, isn't always perfect, but his contributions make him worth evaluating.
Banza's greatest strength lies in his attacking awareness. He's among those forwards who appears to instinctively know where the ball will arrive and which touch is required to guide it into the net. There's an element of Erling Haaland about him, both in stature and technique.
Banza scored 21 goals in 28 appearances for Braga in 2023–24 and then improved during his loan spell with Trabzonspor, demonstrating abilities that adapt to different environments. Simply put, he's a proven scorer.
A dependable choice with a relatively modest price point, Banza would represent a shrewd acquisition for virtually any Premier League club.
Jean-Philippe Mateta
Should United desire a striker they can confidently expect to score in England's premier division, it's worth examining Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace more closely.
Leading an inconsistent Palace team, Mateta managed 14 goals last season. Clearly, this doesn't match the exceptional figures supporters might prefer, but it represents the output of a striker familiar with Premier League demands—something the Red Devils may have overlooked recently.
Mateta is a clever mover whose peak performances have occurred in a 3-4-2-1 system under Oliver Glasner. He performs optimally in arrangements that surround him with support and allow him to make runs beyond the defense, rather than operating with his back toward goal.
Ruben Amorim can provide similar conditions for Mateta at Old Trafford and, with only one year remaining on his contract, may not need to spend excessively to secure his services.
Promise David
There's some risk involved with Promise David, who was competing in Estonia as recently as 2023–24 and possesses just one season of experience in Belgium's premier league, but the Canada international has accomplished enough to merit inclusion in this discussion.
A physical specimen standing 6'5, identifying David's advantages doesn't require expertise, but what makes him compelling is his capacity to merge his size with agility rarely observed among comparable forwards. The 24-year-old is surprisingly quick and often performs as if unaware of his towering frame, displaying nimble ball handling and intelligent passing vision.
David has successfully transitioned from Estonia to Belgium. Anticipating similar success in the Premier League might be premature at this point, but as his name implies, David's abilities show considerable potential and he seems precisely the type of striker who is one Brighton transfer away from commanding an enormous fee.
Can United provide him adjustment time? Possibly not, but assistance from another experienced addition to reduce pressure could unlock David's full potential.