Eight strikers Manchester United need to consider signing this summer
Football Whispers takes a look at best strikers that should be on Manchester United's radar as the Premier League side look to replace injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic this summer.
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Only Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool can better Manchester United’s record of 409 chances created in the Premier League this season, yet the Red Devils rank seventh for goals scored.
Even top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with 17 league goals this term, isn’t the most efficient of marksmen.
The Swedish striker requires 6.82 shots for every goal scored, compared to Diego Costa’s 5.47 and Alexis Sanchez’s 5.42.
And with Ibrahimovic out until next year, United’s need for a striker is all the more urgent, so Football Whispers have identified eight strikers who they could target.
Romelu Lukaku
With just over two years left on his current Everton contract, Romelu Lukaku is refusing to consider a renewal with the Toffees, sparking speculation over a big-money move this summer.
He is thought to be a Chelsea transfer target, but the 23-year-old is a client of Mino Raiola, the agent who took Paul Pogba, Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to Old Trafford last summer, so a switch to Old Trafford is not beyond the realms of possibility.
Powerful, fast and an expert finisher, with 86 goals in 162 games since leaving Stamford Bridge for Everton, there can be no doubts over Lukaku’s calibre.
Leading the Premier League scorers’ chart with 25 goals this term, the 6’3” striker has maintained an impressive average of needing just 3.91 shots for every goal scored, demonstrating the kind deadly touch in front of goal that United have lacked this term.
Rumours of Wayne Rooney potentially returning to Goodison Park on a free transfer this summer could pave the way for Lukaku to move in the other direction.
Estimated fee: £100million
Antoine Griezmann
It has been widely reported that United have identified Atletcio Marid forward Antoine Griezmann as their top target, and the Red Devils are willing to meet the Frenchman’s €100million (£85million) contractual release clause.
It’s a hefty price tag but the 26-year-old, who came third in the running for last year’s Ballon d’Or, might just be worth it.
Though not an out-and-out striker, the former Real Sociedad man has bagged 82 goals in 152 games since joining Los Colchoneros in 2014, and raised his game to a whole new level to win the Golden Boot at last summer’s European Championships having scored six times for Les Bleus.
Viewed as the long-term heir to Rooney in United’s attack, Griezmann has the quality and star power to shine at Old Trafford, with the latest reports suggesting a deal has been done to secure the services of the frontman.
Estimated fee: £85million
Andrea Belotti
With 25 goals, Torino striker Andrea Belotti is currently leading the race to be crowned top scorer in Serie A and is attracting interest from several of Europe’s biggest clubs.
An old-fashioned penalty area poacher who sparks into life whenever he gets the faintest sniff of goal, the 23-year-old has demonstrated a ruthlessness when presented with a chance that has seen him find the net every 103 minutes on average this term.
A new contract with Il Toro, signed earlier in the season, contains a buyout clause of €100million for non-Italian clubs.
Arsenal are thought to be among the player’s biggest admirers and Torino boss Sinisa Mihajlovic has admitted he may be powerless to keep him if a big money bid is tabled this summer.
Estimated fee: £85million
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Few strikers have developed as much over the last three seasons as Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Predominantly thought of as a winger during his early career, it wasn’t until Robert Lewandowski left for Bayern Munich, ahead of his second season at the Westfalenstadion, that the former AC Milan youngster received a regular run of games at centre-forward.
Since then, he hasn’t looked back, netting 114 goals in 183 games for BVB. And this term he has been more prolific than ever, topping the Bundesliga scoring chart with 23 goals in 23 games.
La Liga does appear to be the 27-year-old Gabonese forward’s preferred destination though as he has openly admitted a desire to fulfil his dream of representing Real Madrid, the club his grandfather supported.
Estimated fee: £65million
Kylian Mbappe
Monaco’s 18-year-old striking sensation Kylian Mbappe is undoubtedly the hottest prospect in world football right now.
Since helping the France under-19 side become European champions last summer, the teenager has taken full advantage of the first-team opportunities he has been given by Leonardo Jardim at the Stade Louis II this season.
Three goals against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarter finals helped further enhance his reputation, while the Paris-born youngster’s record of 23 goals and 11 assists means he is directly involved in his team scoring every 61 minutes.
There will be a battle for his services though, and he is thought to be on Real Madrid's shopping list thsi summer.
Estimated fee: £85million
Harry Kane
Mourinho is also believed to be a big admirer of Tottenham’s Harry Kane, whose 20 Premier League goals this term have been scored from just 76 efforts, meaning he has needed just 3.8 shots for every goal scored.
The 23-year-old England striker is on course to develop into a world class centre-forward, as his goal against Chelsea at the weekend showed.
Any deal to snatch the former Leicester City and Millwall loanee away from White Hart Lane will be close to impossible to pull off though, with Kane penning a new long-term contract last year.
Estimated fee: £100million
Alexandre Lacazette
Reports in Spain last month claimed that Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette has verbally agreed to join Atletico Madrid, with Griezmann responsible for recommending his international colleague to Los Colchoneros.
But Atleti are banned from making any new signings this summer due to a FIFA transfer ban.
With 24 goals in Ligue 1 this season, the Lyon academy graduate only trails Edinson Cavani in finding the back of the net this season in France, and his blistering pace would be a welcome addition at Old Trafford.
Estimated fee: £60million
Alvaro Morata
After returning to Real Madrid from Juventus last summer, Spanish international striker Alvaro Morata has found regular playing time hard to come by, and the player has admitted that he may have to move away from the Bernabéu once more if his prospects do not improve soon.
Chelsea were linked with a move for the athletic and versatile forward before Madrid exercised the €30million buyback option to end his two-year Turin stay, and Antonio Conte’s Blues are believed to have retained their interest.
Though not as prolific as the other names on this list throughout his career, with just 67 goals from 199 professional appearances.
The 24-year-old is hard working and unselfish, helping those around him to thrive.
At Old Trafford, he could be the ideal man to aid the development of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.
Estimated fee: £60million
