Manchester United went down to 10 men and yet clinched an enthralling FA Cup tie against Arsenal 5-3 on penalties away at the Emirates on Sunday.
The battling spirit shown by the backline was exactly what Ruben Amorim would have wanted from his players and ensured they set-up a fourth-round date with former interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy and his Leicester City side next month.
While most of the team deserves plaudits, Rasmus Hojlund struggled yet again playing up top with Joshua Zirkzee an improvement since he came on in the second half.
However, both strikers have been goal-shy, managing only 11 goals between them all season while Marcus Rashford has already declared his intention to leave.
Strikers have been goal-shy this season
The Portuguese head coach had asked INEOS for reinforcements but so far, due to PSR restrictions, no help has been forthcoming.
Amorim would prefer the club to go after his former Sporting Lisbon protege Viktor Gyokeres in January but he had made a promise to his former employers that he would not target any of their players in the winter and hence, a deal is unlikely to materialise this January.
And there have been reports claiming the Swede would prefer a move to Bayern Munich instead of reuniting with his former boss in Manchester and that is why the club are keeping their options open at this stage.
Fichajes have now claimed that the Red Devils could opt to sign Gyokeres’ backup at Sporting, Conrad Harder instead with the Dane impressing in Lisbon since his summer switch from Nordsjaelland.
The Denmark U21 international, signed by Amorim, has started only six times but has netted seven goals while also registering three assists with a goal involvement every 73 minutes.
The 19-year-old can play as a striker as well as on both wings with Sporting set to ask for €35 million for his services should they decide to let him go.
Harder on United’s radar
“Manchester United are still looking to strengthen their attack, and in the face of the possible refusal of Viktor Gyökeres, the English team is evaluating alternatives. One of the options that has recently emerged is that of the young striker Conrad Harder, one of the most promising jewels of Sporting Lisbon.
“However, Lisbon does not seem willing to let him go easily. According to sources close to the Portuguese club, Sporting would demand at least 35 million euros for the transfer of the attacker.”
Harder certainly has potential and INEOS have shown they do love signing a diamond in the rough but United already have that in abundance with both Hojlund and Zirkzee.
Now they need an elite finisher instead, someone who can come in and hit the ground running and the club should focus on trying to acquire someone of Gyokeres’ talents or possible Victor Osimhen.
Feature image Gualter Fatia via Getty Images
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
