A new number nine is an urgent priority for Manchester United this summer with Ruben Amorim pushing for a striker with “more goal prowess” than Rasmus Hojlund, according to a report.
But the search has proven difficult with only a narrow range of options and a host of other clubs also on the hunt for a centre-forward.
Narrow Number Nine Market
United identified Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, 22, as a primary target due to the England U-21 international’s £30 million relegation clause at Portman Road – a favourable price in an expensive market.
And despite Old Trafford executives entering “face-to-face talks” with Delap, he rejected these advances in favour of a switch to Chelsea.
But Amorim is believed to have always preferred a move to reunite him with his former pupil in Lisbon, Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.
The Sweden international’s contract in the Portuguese capital contains a €100 million release clause. But he was reported to have reached a gentleman’s agreement with Sporting officials that the club would consider proposals worth around €70 million this summer.
However, Sporting’s president, Frederico Varandas, rejected this arrangement had ever been made in a bombastic public statement. He instead claims the Lions will only accept an offer lower than the release clause, but not as low as €70 million.
“I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for €60m plus €10m [in add-ons] because I never promised that,” Varandas stated. “To this day, Sporting has not received an offer for Gyokeres – neither today nor last summer.”
Pete Hall (i Paper) contends United will “not break the bank” for Gyokeres, despite the Swede remaining the club’s “top target,” as the budget at Old Trafford is already stretched.
Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha was confirmed as a new Red Devil yesterday in a £62.5 million switch from Wolverhampton Wanders while United are locked in negotiations for Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo at a similar figure.
This makes a costly pursuit of Gyokeres difficult, particularly if the price has increased from initial projections. Furthermore, there are doubts amongst senior executives at Old Trafford over a move for the Sporting talisman with some questioning whether Gyokeres has the “right profile”.
The Case for Zirkzee
Instead, Hall reveals, there are many figures at the club who believe Joshua Zirkzee could continue his resurgence under Amorim and take on the centre-forward role next season, with Cunha and Mbeumo operating either side oh him.
“There is, however, a feeling among many at the club that Joshua Zirkzee could fulfil that role in a fluid front three, flanked by Bryan Mbeumo – for whom a second bid is on the way – and Matheus Cunha.
“Zirkzee improved markedly after being booed off by his own supporters in December, before picking up an injury that ended his season prematurely. The Dutchman’s resurrection made him something of a fan favourite, among all the gloom around Old Trafford.”
Zirkzee, 24, endured a torrid start to life in Manchester following his £35 million move from Serie A side Bologna last summer. Despite scoring on his debut, the Dutch international appeared out-of-shape and sluggish in the first half of the season, lacking the ability to link play as a frontman and offering zero attacking threat.
There were even reports linking him with a hasty return to Italy in the January transfer window, where he continues to have many admirers after winning the Young Player of the Year award in the 2023/24 campaign.
But Zirkzee rallied under Amorim, despite the incident against Newcastle United in December, improving fitness and form under his new head coach. Amorim does not view Zirkzee as a number nine, however, often opting to play the Dutchman in one of the two attacking midfielder slots in his 3-4-2-1 system.
Yet the dismal form of Hojlund, who produced one of the worst campaigns by a senior striker at Old Trafford in recent memory, saw the Portuguese coach increasingly turn to Zirkzee up front as the season drew to a close.
But a hamstring injury, sustained at St James’ Park against Newcastle – a side the 24-year-old has desperate misfortune against – on April 13, effectively ruled him out for the remainder of the year.
Zirkzee was able to return as a substitute in the season-defining Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur, coming off the bench to replace Hojlund, with a noticeable improvement in link-up play and movement in comparison to his Danish teammate. But it proved too little too late as United slumped to a dismal 1-0 loss in Bilbao.
However, the template of the performance – a target man who teammates can play off due to his outstanding technical ability and surprising skill for his size – is likely driving this idea at Old Trafford that Zirkzee can step up if a pursuit of a new number nine fails.
With players with the pace and power of Cunha and Mbeumo deployed either side of Zirkzee, who are also technically strong and skilful, the 24-year-old’s playmaking abilities should elevate.
Mbeumo scored 20 league goals for Brentford last season while Cunha returned 15 for Wolves. Zirkzee, by comparison, scored only three.
But the scope for better returns from a player who spent much of the first portion of last year unfit and unfamiliar with his teammates is obvious. Especially as United will hope the team’s performance levels will be significantly better due to a full pre-season with Amorim, enabling immediate uplifts by individuals accordantly.
In this line-up, Mbeumo and Cunha would offer the productivity of two number nines, while Zirkzee plays more the role of a number ten; a facilitator, rather than a finisher, as a forward. And he could save the club around £60 million in transfer fees if he recreates his form for Bologna in the same position.
Featured image Ion Alcoba Beitia via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
