United face Arsenal competition in pursuit of 22-yo LaLiga sensation with 9 g/a this season – report

Manchester United invested heavily in their attack before the start of this season to address their goalscoring woes. The Red Devils had managed just 44 goals in 38 Premier League games last season, which was the second-fewest among the top 15 in the table after Everton (42). INEOS subsequently spent over £200 million on Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, and have already reaped the benefits. United have scored 38 goals in 22 league games this season, the third-most after Manchester City (45) and Arsenal (40). While Mbeumo has been a revelation and Cunha has also performed well, Sesko has failed to live up to expectations, managing five goals in 19 games in all competitions. This situation has seen the Red Devils linked with several strikers, including Levante sensation Karl Etta Eyong. LaLiga’s rising star Etta Eyong rose through the ranks at Galactique before joining Cadiz’s academy in 2022. He was promoted to the first team two years later, before moving to Villarreal in the summer of 2024. Last summer, Etta Eyong was targeted by several clubs in LaLiga and ended up joining Levante. He has been very impressive since the move, registering six goals and three assists in 18 appearances. Karl Etta-Eyong Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed Cards6Minutes Played LaLiga1716632––1.291′ Copa del Rey10–––––16′ Total1816632––1.307′ Source: Transfermarkt. The 22 year old is a centre-forward by trade, but can also slot into the attacking midfield position if required. His versatility also makes him an attractive option for the Red Devils. However, it now appears that a Premier League rival has already stepped up their efforts to prise him away. Arsenal want Etta Eyong According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Arsenal are among the clubs exploring a move for Karl Etta Eyong, with United, Barcelona and Real Madrid also in the race. The report adds that the Gunners are looking to upgrade their attack this year and have their eyes on Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez too. The rising interest in the Cameroonian’s signature will not be good news for the Red Devils. Arsenal are firing on all cylinders under Mikel Arteta and could be a more tempting proposition for the young forward than United. Etta Eyong could also explore the option to stay in LaLiga amid interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid. The Red Devils are expected to prioritise midfield reinforcements this summer and may not have the resources to enter a bidding war for the Cameroonian. The striker reportedly has a €30 million release clause in his deal, but it rises to €40 million for clubs outside LaLiga. He is under contract with Levante until 2029. Final Thoughts Despite Sesko’s slow start to life at Old Trafford, it would be unwise to write him off just yet, especially since he remains highly regarded at United. Instead of signing another young striker, perhaps the Red Devils would be better advised to invest in an experienced campaigner like Danny Welbeck to aid in the Slovenian’s development. Several top clubs have made initial enquiries to understand the terms required to sign Julian Alvarez. Deco held a meeting on behalf of Barcelona. Arsenal also made aware of Alvarez’s situation. Exploratory talks commonplace and not yet indicative of a direction of travel.… pic.twitter.com/wx4Wu1Y5Yt — Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) January 23, 2026 Featured image Pedro Salado via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.