Let’s be honest, the most exciting transfer rumour a fan can hear is that their club is getting a new top goal scorer. Even though most will tell you that a solid defence is better than a solid offence, (clean sheets guarantee a point), goals are what the beautiful game is all about. It’s what we pay to see. The kids get the shirts with the exciting strikers and goal scorers on them. Well, I didn’t, I had Ferdinand, but I was a bit weird like that. Nevertheless! We all love a quality goal scorer and it looks like United are in the market for a great one.
United currently don’t have a first choice striker following the sale of van Persie and the non-renewal of Falcao. The following is a breakdown of top strikers linked to United, and some who are just linked to move. Hopefully one will be playing with a Red Devil on his shirt next season.
Alexandre Lacazette
What a season this guy has had, 31 goals in 40 games. The 24 year old Frenchman is lightning on the ball and is an insane dribbler, this all being alongside him being a cracking finisher.
Currently the biggest rumour surrounding Lacazette is Liverpool, which may discourage you as they don’t tend to bring in great strikers. (Balotelli, Borini, Lambert, Sturridge-Without-Suarez, Aspas, Carroll and Bellamy being a few of the more recent, … not so great Liverpool strikers) But any Premier League club would benefit from having the French goal machine.
Thomas Muller
Despite Bayern’s chairman quashing rumours of anymore of Munich’s players going to Manchester United, there are still mumbles that a deal may yet be on the cards with Bayern just playing hard ball. Muller is a fantastic striker, but he’s so much more than that. He is extremely comfortable in any position across the forward line and is always looking to poach a goal.
At only 25 years old he is but 6 goals away from beating, fellow countryman, Miroslav Klose’s All-Time World Cup Top Scorers record of 16 and Muller has at least two more tournaments left in him. He’s one of the best strikers in the world right now and well worth smashing open the piggy bank for.
Edinson Cavani
Having been in the shadow of Swedish giant Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the last 2 seasons, despite costing PSG 3 times as much on the initial transfer, he’s put up some world class numbers in front of goal. In 95 appearances he’s scored 56 goals. The guy is a beast, an absolute work horse. He’ll run all game long but still play virtually every game of the season, whilst averaging over a goal every two games.
He could defiantly shine at United, having players like Rooney, Di Maria, Carrick and Valencia sending him through on goal each game. It’s hard not to see Cavani lighting up the Prem each week, if he came to Old Trafford.
Harry Kane
The pride of Tottenham, every English fan, has loved, or can at least appreciate, the success that The HurriKane achieved last season. 31 goals in all competitions last season highlights a fantastic breakthrough year for the young Englishman. But can he do it again next season? You do see a lot of these big, almost old school, strikers dropping off in their follow up seasons, just look at the likes of Grant Holt for Norwich or Michu for Swansea.
Obviously Kane is far more talented than them but he has a similar kind of style. There is the threat that defenders will know his game next season so will be able to cut him out. Or he could do amazing again and double his transfer value, making Daniel Levy a very happy man.
Alexandre Pato
When AC Milan signed him in the 2007/08 season he was tipped to be the next best thing. A young Brazillain with lots of potential but it never seemed to really materialise for him in Italy. He played 150 games for Milan, scoring 63 goals, but never seemed to improve at the rate his obvious potential would suggest. This was greatly put down to him wanting to go home; he reportedly even turned down moves to the Premier League when given the option to leave. In 2012 he moved to Brazilian side Corinthians.
Unfortunately he hasn’t been given much chance to show his talent on the pitch in Brazil but when given a chance he does show little snippets of the talent he still possesses. It would be a risk, not an overly expensive risk, but still a risk, for United to sign him, but maybe under the right coaching and with a world class team behind him; he may be able to find his feet now that he’s more mature.
Mauro Icardi
He currently plays for Inter Milan, who you would no longer recognise as the European giants they were but a few years ago. This season they finished 8th, causing them to miss out on European competitions. However, amongst this historically poor Inter side is a shining light. Mauro Icardi is fantastic in front of goal.
At only 22 the Argentinean has really impressed the big clubs with his tally of 27 goals and 9 assists. He’s already valued at £22.4 million*. The starlet seems to have it all, dribbling, pace, power and finishing. He would be a great fit at United; being fed by their supreme passers would only aid his development into a world class striker. Soon, he will go to a big club and the others will regret not snapping him up.
Andriy Yarmolenko
He’s probably the most obscure player on this list but he is a great striker. Currently playing for Dynamo Kyiv, Yarmolenko impressed on the domestic and European stage last season. He scored 19 with 21 assists in all competitions and, at only 25, he already has 19 goals in 49 games for Ukraine.
You can’t help but think he’s coming on to be the next Andriy Shevchenko. He’s got a keen eye for the net and he’s a team player. He’d fit in well with Manchester United’s team ethic and attacking mentality.
Cristiano Ronaldo
It seems like since the moment he caught the one way flight from Manchester to Madrid, every transfer window is headlined by “Ronnie Unhappy”, “United Make World Record Bid”, Ronaldo Hints At Return”. Every rational United fan knows that he’s not coming back anytime soon.
He’s making big money, scoring for fun and it was his childhood dream to play for Real. But wouldn’t it be great if he did come back. Just seeing Cristiano in red again, smashing free kicks in against mesmerised goalkeepers, would be incredible. Very unlikely, but one can dream.
*Transfer Value stated from TransferMarkt.co.uk, 13/07/15.
