Man Utd chasing ‘one of the best attackers in Europe’

Manchester United have begun to find their shooting boots in recent weeks. Goals have, at times this season, been an issue for the Red Devils, under both former manager Erik ten Hag and his replacement Ruben Amorim.

However, in their last two games, the 13-time Premier League champions have had more joy in front of goal. United have found the back of the net seven times in their last two outingsbeating Real Sociedad 4-1 at Old Trafford, and Leicester City 3-0 away from home.

Things have begun to pick up for United on the goalscoring front in the last few weeks. It seems like they want to continue this hot streak in front of goal, and have been linked with a new striker ahead of the summer transfer window.

Man Utd’s striker targets for the summer.

The Red Devils are not short of options in the summer transfer market when it comes to signing a new striker with Benjamin Sesko and Victor Osimhen said to be targets according to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg.

The reporter name-checks the two forwards as players the Red Devils are ‘closely monitoring’. However, they are also targeting Eintracht Frankfurt’s France U21 international Hugo Ekitike.

Plettenberg notes that Amorim’s side are ‘looking to strengthen their attack in the summer’, with 22-year-old Ekitike one of the names on their list.

At the start of March, a report from French outlet L’Equpie valued the striker at an eye-watering £67m, linking United’s rivals Liverpool to him.

It remains to be seen if this valuation will stick for United, but it could be tough to meet if they fail to get into Europe next season, thus reducing funds available.

How Ekitike compares to Rasmus Hojlund

It has been an outstanding season for French striker Ekitike. He is an all-round centre forward, who can score and create.

The young striker has 19 goals and eight assists in 38 games across all competitions and was described at the start of the season as “one of the most in-form attackers in Europe” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Ekitike’s ability to link up with players around him could see him explode in Amoirm’s 3-4-2-1 system. He would be playing alongside two number 10s, flying wingbacks and Bruno Fernandes in his new deeper-lying role. He surely would not be short of service or players to link up with.

Should the Red Devils get this deal over the line, Ekitike could be a replacement for Rasmus Hojlund. The Dane’s form has been disappointing this season, with just eight goals and two assists in 39 games across competitions.

However, he did manage to get on the scoresheet in their last game against Leicester. It was a well-taken strike, too.

Fernandes clipped a ball over the top, with Hojlund bringing the ball under control, and driving his shot into the bottom left corner, across the goalkeeper.

Well, Hojlund’s form has certainly been a concern for United, and there is a report that Napoli could look to sign him this summer if the Old Trafford club decide to cash in on him. They are thought to want £50m for the striker.

If United do decide to sign Ekitike as a replacement for Hojlund, the stats via FBref from this season suggest it would be an upgrade. For example, the Frenchman averages 0.62 goals and 3.78 shot-creating actions per game, compared to 0.29 goals and 1.9 shot-creating actions per game for Hojlund.

As the goalscoring numbers, and the underlying stats, suggest, the sensational Frankfurt star would be a big upgrade on Hojlund for United. The Frenchman has been in superb form this season, and cannot stop scoring, which is exactly what United need to enhance their attacking prowess.

Even though the fee of around £67m is an expensive one, it could be the perfect investment for the Red Devils to take their goalscoring to the next level.