Another striker slips away as United miss key date for 25-goal hitman – report

Manchester United remain short on attacking options despite the transfer window having been open for well over a month.

After securing Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a bright start to the summer, no more forward options have come through the door.

The club are tied up in protracted negotiations for Brentford number 10 Bryan Mbeumo, and all the while the hunt for a new centre-forward is getting more difficult.

What’s the plan?

Across Europe there have been a number of top strikers available for transfer this summer, but United don’t appear to have moved for any of them.

With the exception of Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, whose bargain release clause was ultimately triggered by Chelsea, the Red Devils haven’t made a concrete move for any number 9s.

Meanwhile the prolific Viktor Gyokeres is set to join Arsenal and the world-class Victor Osimhen looks destined for Galatasaray.

Hugo Ekitike is the latest name mentioned, although the fact that United interest has supposedly piqued in the aftermath of Newcastle United getting serious about the Frenchman suggests this is more opportunistic reporting than anything else.

Moise Kean

Working down the list of options, the Red Devils moved on to a reported interest in Fiorentina’s Moise Kean.

The Italian is an intriguing proposition, having roundly failed to impress at Everton and also struggling at Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.

However, after scoring 25 goals for Fiorentina last season there is a feeling in some corners that he has finally started achieving his potential.

Fresh barrier

The Red Devils were tipped to trigger the 25-year-old’s €52m release clause, but that ship has now sailed as the clause expired today.

Corriere dello Sport report this news today, explaining that anyone wishing to sign the player will now have to negotiate a deal with Fiorentina, which would be a “soap opera”.

La Viola now intend to lock Kean down with a “top-level salary”, effectively closing the door to the player as a viable option for United this summer.

Interestingly, the release clause comes back into play next year – it is valid every summer for the remainder of Kean’s current contract from 1 July to 15 July. If the club are determined to lock him down to a new deal, however, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this clause removed.

While no contract offer has yet been received by the player from Fiorentina, the report implies it’s a matter of when, not if, he signs a new contract at the club. This is backed up by his recent comments that he is “really motivated to move forward” with the Florence side.

Never a target

The report notes that Kean shrugged off interest from Saudi Pro League clubs, but that while “the option of Manchester United remained” a concrete move from the club “never materialised”.

That the Red Devils have watched on as the player’s release clause expires, in a summer where every penny counts even more than usual, surely indicates that they never intended to pursue the Italy international in the first place.

Corriere dello Sport concede that “a move between now and the end of the transfer window cannot be ruled out”, but Fiorentina have “regained control” and it would be a very difficult deal to do.

Featured image Timothy Rogers via Getty Images

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