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“Discussions”: PL-proven striker’s bargain £40 million release clause has fired United into action – report

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“Discussions”: PL-proven striker’s bargain £40 million release clause has fired United into action – report

Manchester United reportedly want to sign Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap in the summer and he has a £40 million release clause in the event the Tractor Boys get relegated at the end of the season.

The Red Devils have struggled to find the back of the net all season and this has been demonstrated in the fact they have only scored 37 goals in 30 matches in the Premier League.

Their squandering of chances on a regular basis was on full show in the 0-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest earlier this week, where they failed to score despite taking 23 shots on goal.

Consequently, United have been linked with big name strikers such as Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres to help add some much needed ruthlessness to their game in front of goal.

The Red Devils may not be able to afford such players this summer though, especially if they fail to win the Europa League, which would secure qualification to the Champions League.

United are therefore drawing up contingency plans and one attractive option according to certain sources is Ipswich’s Liam Delap.

The Daily Mail report that “Manchester United have held more discussions internally over a potential summer move for Ipswich striker Liam Delap.”

“The England Under 21 international has a release clause in the region of £40million if Ipswich are relegated from the Premier League, which makes him more affordable than the likes of Hugo Ekitike, who is valued at closer to £70m by Eintracht Frankfurt.”

United are not only attracted to Delap’s potential price but also the fact that he has scored goals in the Premier League this season.

His 11th Premier League strike of the season last night proved to be vital as Kieran McKenna’s side impressively beat AFC Bournemouth 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium.

It won’t be a simple deal for United though as they “will face competition from a number of rivals including Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and his old club Manchester City who have a buyback option on the 22-year-old.”

Ruben Amorim’s side hope that one factor in their favour is that the player knows United’s technical director Jason Wilcox from their time together with the Man City academy.

United hope to fund a deal by selling Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho in the summer.

Featured image Stephen Pond via Getty Images

Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.

Match preview: Manchester United v City

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Match preview: Manchester United v City

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Amad scores the winner at the Etihad Stadium last December.

Match preview: Manchester United v City

Thursday 03 April 2025 10:00

Ruben Amorim will get his first taste of a Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Manchester United host City at 16:30 BST and we are hoping to complete a first league double over our crosstown rivals in five years.

A Bruno Fernandes penalty and Amad’s stoppage-time winner snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at the Etihad Stadium prior to Christmas, and a repeat would be a huge boost to confidence ahead of Thursday’s Europa League meeting with Lyon in France.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the big game, including a significant injury for one of the Blues’ star men…

90 in 20: Man City v United Video

90 in 20: Man City v United

EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS | Dedicate 20 minutes to the key moments from our clash with Man City…

HOW TO WATCH AND FOLLOW

Sunday’s game is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, but subscribers can join us on MUTV from 15:25 BST for exclusive build-up from pitchside at Old Trafford.

Join former Reds Wes Brown and Phil Bardsley as they provide analysis and reaction, while, during the match itself, the United App is the place to be.

We provide live radio commentary, plus text updates and Opta-fed stats to keep you across all the action. Highlights will be available across our platforms from two hours after the final whistle.

TEAM NEWS

United’s injury issues have eased a little, with Harry Maguire, Mason Mount and Leny Yoro all returning to action after injury at Nottingham Forest. Altay Bayindir was also in the matchday squad for the 1-0 defeat on Tuesday.

Amorim expects Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw to be back soon, while Amad, Jonny Evans and Ayden Heaven are ‘recovering’ as they hope to return before the end of the campaign.

City’s top scorer Erling Haaland will miss Sunday’s game, with the Norwegian set to be sidelined for between five to seven weeks after picking up an ankle problem in the Emirates FA Cup quarter-final win at Bournemouth on Sunday. Omar Marmoush, who scored the winner against the Cherries and netted against Leicester City in midweek, is most likely to deputise.

“We don’t have another player with his skills or specific qualities, we know that, but we have to adapt,” said Pep Guardiola, of Haaland.

“For many years, we play with different ways up front and it depends on the qualities of the players we’re going to find another solution.

“We will find a solution for the players that we have with different skills and qualities. We will find that.”

Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and John Stones have been injured and are still a number of weeks away from fitness, while Rodri is still on the recovery trail after rupturing his anterior-cruciate ligament in September.

FORM GUIDE

Our run of four league games without defeat came to an end on Tuesday, as Anthony Elanga’s fifth-minute goal was enough to secure victory for Nottingham Forest. This is our first league outing at Old Trafford since 9 March, when we drew 1-1 with Arsenal.

Guardiola’s men have stuttered on the road since their long Premier League unbeaten run was ended at Bournemouth in early November. City have only taken 11 points from their last 11 top-flight away games, with their three wins in that time coming against Leicester, Ipswich Town and Tottenham Hotspur.

City’s 2-0 victory over Leicester on Wednesday night was their first in the league since that February win at Spurs.

DID YOU KNOW?

United are looking for home-and-away league successes over Manchester City in the same season for the first time since 2019/20, with those coming under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial scored in a 2-1 victory in the away game in December, before a memorable 2-0 triumph at Old Trafford. Martial netted again before Scott McTominay’s 96th-minute clincher produced an outpouring of emotion, just as the Covid pandemic was about to take hold.

RIVALS WATCH

SATURDAY 5 APRIL

Everton v Arsenal (12:30 BST)
Crystal Palace v Brighton
Ipswich Town v Wolves
West Ham United v Bournemouth
Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest (17:30 BST)

SUNDAY 6 APRIL

Brentford v Chelsea (14:00 BST)
Fulham v Liverpool (14:00 BST)
Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton (14:00 BST)
UNITED v Manchester City (16:30 BST)

MONDAY 7 APRIL

Leicester City v Newcastle United (20:00 BST)

Kick-offs 15:00 BST unless stated.

Recommended:

Thursday 03 April 2025 10:00

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Man Utd blow as Liverpool, Arsenal emerge as ‘main suitors’ for £60m Premier League star in ‘transfer saga’

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Man Utd blow as Liverpool, Arsenal emerge as ‘main suitors’ for £60m Premier League star in ‘transfer saga’

Liverpool and Arsenal look set to fight for the signing of Eberechi Eze this summer along with three other Premier League teams, according to reports.

Both the Gunners and the Reds are set to be doing some serious business in the summer transfer window despite their relative success this season.

Liverpool are currently 12 points ahead of Arsenal after Arne Slot’s side beat Everton 1-0 in the Merseyside Derby on Wednesday night to reestablish their cushion after Arsenal defeated Fulham the night before.

The Gunners, who will almost certainly finish as Premier League runners-up for a third season in a row, will look to improve their attack at the end of the season with Mikel Arteta already promising a “big summer” in the transfer market.

While Liverpool could face a huge summer overhaul too with uncertainty over out-of-contract trio Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

Darwin Nunez and other squad players have been linked with moves away from Anfield and there will definitely be improvements made in attacking areas.

And now Caught Offside claim that Liverpool and Arsenal ‘look set to be among the main teams competing for the transfer of’ Crystal Palace winger Eze.

Manchester United – who are reportedly preparing a £50m offer – Manchester City and Tottenham are also credited with interest in the England international, who has a £60m release clause.

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Tottenham have been heavily interested but transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently insisted that Eze could prove to be too expensive for Spurs.

Romano said last month: “He’s on Spurs list since 2023, he’s always been highly rated at the club. But the release clause is very expensive and the payment for the clause is not allowed in 3/4 years as usually happens, so that’s what makes the deal difficult – and there are more clubs also keen.”

Michael Olise left Crystal Palace for Bayern Munich last summer and Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish was “astounded” at the lack of interest in Eze.

Parish said: “I was really worried from a club point of view of losing Michael and Ebs in the same window.

“We didn’t have in Ebs the interest that I thought we would have. I was astounded. Genuinely astounded. I mean, the guy’s just an outstanding footballer, an outstanding person. He’s a gift to any football club.

“I don’t think any Crystal Palace supporter would mind that fact that at some point Ebs wants to play at the highest level. He’s playing regularly for England, back in the squad again which we’re so proud about.”

He added: “Ebs is still here and it’s great for the football club. I was surprised that that’s what happened.”

Video: José Mourinho bizarrely attacks rival coach Okan Buruk after Galatasaray beat Fenerbahce

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Video: José Mourinho bizarrely attacks rival coach Okan Buruk after Galatasaray beat Fenerbahce

Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has found himself in hot water once again after pinching the nose of Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk after last night’s cup defeat to Fenerbahce’s great rivals.

The Portuguese coach is no stranger to controversy and has been involved in numerous incidents in his career.

He famously poked Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova in the eye in 2011 during a particularly heated grudge match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona when he was manager of los Blancos.

Mourinho has also caused numerous controversies in Turkiye as he has been exceptionally critical of the refereeing standards in the league and he was accused of racism by Galatasaray in recent months.

The bad blood continued as Mourinho launched a law suit against the club as he believed the accusations infringed on his personal rights.

The incident yesterday could see massive implications for the former United boss.

His side lost a bad-tempered quarter final of the Turkish cup 2-1 to their biggest rivals and there were three red cards during the match.

The BBC report that “Galatasaray have accused Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho of ‘physically attacking’ their manager Okan Buruk after he appeared to grab his nose following a fiery derby in the Turkish Cup.”

Both managers were in the centre of the pitch after the match, communicating with the referees when the incident took place. Mourinho approached Okan from behind and grabbed his nose.

It resulted in the Galatasaray manager falling to the ground and writhing in pain as Mourinho walked away and naturally, the incident sparked a reaction from the Galatasaray coaching staff.

Galatasaray’s vice-president Metin Ozturk claimed, “our manager Okan and Mourinho congratulated the referees. After that, while Okan was continuing, Mourinho first verbally and then physically attacked him. Where else in the world can he do this? What does he think of Turkey?”

Commenting on the unsavoury moment Okan stated, “there was nothing between me and Mourinho. He pinched my nose from behind. There was a slight scratch. Of course, it wasn’t a very nice or elegant thing to do.”

“We expect managers to behave more appropriately in such situations. I won’t exaggerate this issue, but it wasn’t a classy move.”

Mourinho did not attend the post-match press conferences but the story is far from over as he is likely to face severe repercussions from his own side and the Turkish football association.

🚨🚨 Fenerbahçe manager Jose Mourinho to Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk. 😳👃 pic.twitter.com/BF7hk23AFF

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) April 2, 2025

Featured image Ahmad Mora via Getty Images

Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.

United plotting sensational swoop for unstoppable €40m-rated attacker wreaking havoc in Ligue 1 – report

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United plotting sensational swoop for unstoppable €40m-rated attacker wreaking havoc in Ligue 1 – report

OGC Nice attacker Evann Guessand is reportedly at the center of a fierce transfer battle between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

It’s well-known that United are on the hunt for a new and reliable striker as the summer transfer window nears. Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have struggled to consistently come up with the goods in front of goal this season and Ruben Amorim is in dire need of a top-class talisman to lead the line for his side.

United continue to be linked to several goalscorers, including Victor Osimhen (currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli), Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP), Liam Delap (Ipswich Town), Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig), Jonathan David (Lille) and Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen), just to mention a few names.

Now, Stretty News has revealed that Nice’s Guessand is another forward on United’s radar.

Following his breakthrough under Francesco Farioli last season, Guessand is enjoying another superb campaign with Nice.

The Ivory Coast international has plundered an impressive 11 goals and provided an additional seven assists in 27 Ligue 1 games. He has scored 12 and assisted eight times in 36 appearances across all competitions.

An excellent ball dribbler, Guessand is versatile and can also play on either wing or even behind the striker. He is a hard worker and is quick, which enables him to make sharp movements and get past defenders.

According to Stretty News, “Man United have been keeping a close eye on the player. The club’s scouts have been impressed by the player’s physical strength, his technical skills and his eye for goal.”

“However, the Red Devils aren’t the only Premier League side that is Guessand’s heels, as West Ham are also mentioned as a possible destination, and above all, Spurs, who are also seeking attacking reinforcement.”

The news outlet notes that the 23-year-old has yet to make a final decision on his future. However, Nice will find it very difficult to keep him beyond the summer transfer window.

The Ajaccio-born star is expected to cost anywhere between €35m and €40m.

Guessand’s current contract with Nice expires in 2028.

Featured image Alex Bierens de Haan via Getty Images

Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!

United have their eyes on the “most creative player” in the PL as Bruno Fernandes’ replacement in the summer – report

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United have their eyes on the “most creative player” in the PL as Bruno Fernandes’ replacement in the summer – report

It is safe to say that Manchester United have had a disastrous season even if they somehow win the Europa League and qualify for the Champions League next season.

The Premier League campaign has been nothing short of disastrous and Ruben Amorim will be mulling over making multiple changes once the summer window opens.

While plenty of big-name stars could make way, one player he will not want to lose is club captain Bruno Fernandes, who has once again been world-class irrespective of the team’s form.

He has 16 goals and as many assists this season and has crossed double digits for goals and assists in each of his seasons in Manchester, not to mention working his socks off for the team’s cause in every single game.

Bruno linked with Real Madrid move

Real Madrid are reportedly interested in the Portugal international and while Amorim has categorically explained that the skipper is going nowhere, Fichajes have still come out with a report highlighting United’s potential replacements for the 30-year-old.

Names like Eberechi Eze, Morgan Gibbs-White, Oscar Gloukh and Xavi Simons are mentioned and all of them have been linked with a move to Old Trafford in the past.

And while they do not come close to offering Fernandes’ level of quality, they still are big-name players who have done well for their respective teams.

A surprising addition to the list is Mikkel Damsgaard of Brentford, who has three goals and 10 assists for the Bees this season, quite impressive numbers with his performances going under the radar.

In fact, he has the same number of assists as United’s talisman and has been described as “one of the most creative players” in the English top flight currently, high praise indeed.

Surprise replacement

“Manchester United have identified five players as potential successors to Bruno Fernandes should the Portuguese midfielder leave the club due to interest from Real Madrid.

“The shortlist includes Mikkel Damsgaard, Eberechi Eze, Morgan Gibbs-White, Oscar Gloukh and Xavi Simons. Damsgaard stands out for his technique and creativity in the final third.”

The 24-year is enjoying somewhat of a breakthrough campaign this term after he had managed zero goals and a meagre three assists in his previous two seasons combined for the London club, which makes a summer move quite risky.

He can play all across the frontline and even in midfield which could prove useful for Amorim. He would join the ever-growing Danish contingent at the club if the report turns out to be true. But going by the outlet’s reputation, that seems unlikely at this stage.

Feature image Steve Bardens via Getty Images

Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

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

United set to lodge £45m bid for once-forbidden target they were denied a few months ago – report

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United set to lodge £45m bid for once-forbidden target they were denied a few months ago – report

Manchester United are reportedly preparing to lodge another bid for West Ham star Jean-Clair Todibo ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

Todibo was heavily linked to United last summer but they were barred from signing him due to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s stake in Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice. United and Nice both qualified for the Europa League, and UEFA regulations do not allow any organisation or individual to have ‘decisive influence’ over the operations of more than one club in the same competition.

Todibo ended up joining West Ham on a loan but there is an obligation to make the signing a permanent one at the end of the season for £35m

According to The Athletic [via Manchester World], United were linked with a move for Todibo in January but they were unable to land him because he is on loan at the London Stadium.

It’s understood that West Ham could have signed Todibo for the £35m transfer fee in January, and immediately sold him to United for £45m to make a £10m profit. However, the Frenchman was not interested in parting ways with the Hammers.

Nevertheless, United are expected to make another attempt to secure Todibo’s services in the summer, by which time he’ll fully be a West Ham player as the loan obligation will have already kicked in.

Claret & Hugh – a relatively reliable source on West Ham news – suggest the same. They explain, “West Ham can expect another mega-money bid for central defender Jean-Clair Todibo from Manchester United this summer.”

“The Hammers previously rejected a January proposal from United to complete Todibo’s loan signing from Nice and immediately flip his registration for a quick profit.”

“At the time, the player made it clear he wanted to stay at West Ham, and a senior London Stadium source confirmed to C&H that he was in the manager’s plans.”

Claret & Hugh however state that they expect a £45m bid from United to be turned down.

Todibo has made just 19 Premier League appearances all season, with 12 of these being starts. He has helped West Ham keep six clean sheets in that period.

He has featured 21 times across the top-flight and League Cup.

Meanwhile, United are back in action on Sunday when they host cross-town rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford.

Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!

“Untouchable” United fan favourite unlikely to survive INEOS’ summer cull, Amorim “not convinced” about his fitness levels – report

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“Untouchable” United fan favourite unlikely to survive INEOS’ summer cull, Amorim “not convinced” about his fitness levels – report

INEOS are mulling over making wholesale changes in the summer after what has been a disastrous season for Manchester United under two different managers.

It is imperative that the co-owners try and give current head coach Ruben Amorim the tools needed to resurrect the club’s fortunes and for that to happen, player sales will be needed owing to financial constraints.

Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, both considered untouchable not too long ago, have now been put on sale due to their homegrown status which equates to pure profit as per Profit and Sustainability rules.

The midfielder, who is currently injured, has one goal and one assist this season and has struggled since the new coach’s arrival, who has played him all over the park.

Mainoo’s fitness issue

In fact, the Englishman has played as a defensive midfielder, central midfielder, attacking midfielder and even a false nine but has not convinced in Amorim’s system in either of the roles.

As per i News, the former Sporting CP boss feels the England international does not have the required fitness levels to operate in his high-intensity system.

“Cashing in on either Kobbie Mainoo or Alejandro Garnacho remains a serious option this summer. Mainoo is understood to be entertaining the idea of seeking a move away from the club, with the youngster yet to put pen to paper on a new contract.

“Amorim is not completely convinced Mainoo has the fitness levels to be a success in his system. The club would therefore reluctantly sell for offers of around £70m, sources said.”

On top of that, the 19-year-old and United have been at loggerheads over a new contract with the Englishman’s wage demands currently thought to be too excessive.

Wage demands a problem

The Peoples Person has relayed reports that should both parties fail to find an agreement, Mainoo will consider leaving England altogether instead of joining a rival club.

There has been reported interest from Chelsea, who were eyeing a January deal and could return in the summer even though the midfielder’s wage demands might make it difficult for them as well. Inter Milan have been named as a potential foreign suitor.

The Red Devils have reluctantly slapped a £70 million price tag on his head, something the Nerazzurri might struggle to afford. Whether there will be a separate price for foreign teams remains to be seen.

Fans will be hugely disappointed if both Carrington graduates — Mainoo and Garnacho depart in the same window with Marcus Rashford also likely to make way.

Feature image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images

Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

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

United star shatters 12-yo PL record with remarkable feat he achieved in loss to Forest

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United star shatters 12-yo PL record with remarkable feat he achieved in loss to Forest

Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui accomplished a feat in the defeat to Nottingham Forest that no other Premier League player has achieved in the past 12 years.

United were beaten 1-0 by Forest on Tuesday evening at the City Ground.

Antony Elanga broke the deadlock just five minutes in, running the length of the pitch before firing the ball into the back of the net, well past the reach of a helpless Andre Onana.

The Red Devils dominated possession and created some chances but unfortunately, weren’t clinical enough in front of goal.

Ruben Amorim insisted that his side deserved more from the game – sentiments that were echoed by Diogo Dalot, who also emphasised that he and his teammates are on the right track despite suffering a loss.

Mazraoui struggled to meet his usual high standards and was partly at fault for Elanga’s goal.

However, he still put up some impressive numbers as a member of Amorim’s three-man defence. The Moroccan won seven of the 15 ground duels he delved into and put in six tackles.

He also managed an impressive 89% pass accuracy and connected with the one cross he aimed.

(Stats obtained from Sofascore)

Statisticians WhoScored reveal that Mazraoui made two last-man tackles in the contest with Forest.

No player has made more last-man tackles in a single Premier League match in any of the last 12 seasons.

Noussair Mazraoui made 2 last-man tackles against Nottingham Forest last night, no player has made more in a single Premier League match in any of the last 12 seasons. 💪 pic.twitter.com/Q1rGRUagTU

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) April 2, 2025

It’s an incredible achievement for Mazraoui, who, despite United’s struggles this term, has been one of the very few positives.

The 27-year-old has been a versatile asset for Amorim, excelling in multiple roles. Besides featuring at center-back, Mazraoui has also been deployed effectively on both flanks as a wing-back.

Feature image Michael Regan via Getty Images

Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!

United’s register embarrassing stat v Forest, their worst since Solskjaer’s 2021 disasterclass – The Athletic

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United’s register embarrassing stat v Forest, their worst since Solskjaer’s 2021 disasterclass – The Athletic

Manchester United’s scoring struggles continued on Tuesday night as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, despite recording 23 shots — their highest in a Premier League match without a goal in over two years.

It marked the 11th time in 30 league matches this season that United have failed to find the back of the net, as their lack of attacking efficiency once again proved costly.

Not since a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa in September 2021, when they managed 28 attempts, have United been this prolific in front of goal without scoring.

Head coach Ruben Amorim defended the performance, saying his team “created chances” and “reached the final third a lot of times”, but admitted United could have done more with the ball. “We need to be better in that final third because it is really important to score goals, and we have a lack of goals,” he conceded.

The Athletic’s recent article delves deep into the statistics.

United’s expected goals (xG) total of 1.63 dwarfed Forest’s 0.48, yet it was the hosts who emerged victorious thanks to an early strike from Anthony Elanga.

From the fifth minute on, Forest had no incentive to attack and instead focused on frustrating their visitors — a task they executed perfectly.

The Red Devils failed to break down a Forest side that dropped deep and defended with discipline. Their best chances came only after a dramatic tactical shift in the closing stages when centre back Harry Maguire was pushed forward as an emergency striker in the 88th minute.

Remarkably, in just eight minutes on the pitch, the 6ft 4in defender produced three efforts worth a combined xG of 0.60 — equal to what Rasmus Hojlund has amassed over his last six league appearances.

These were United’s most threatening moments of the game, which says much about the failings of their attacking unit. Prior to Maguire’s introduction, their best opportunity came from a first-half set piece, when Diogo Dalot’s header struck the bar before falling to Matthijs de Ligt, who could only fire into the ground from a tight angle.

Dead-ball situations have been one of the few reliable sources of goals this term.

United have scored 10 times from set pieces — among the top five in the division — but remain average when it comes to creating chances in open play. De Ligt’s 0.15 xG rebound stood as their highest-quality chance until Maguire arrived.

Garnacho was once again United’s liveliest attacker, recording six shots. One counterattack offered a promising moment, with Garnacho driving forward and opting to shoot rather than passing to the overlapping Dorgu or Christian Eriksen. His effort was blocked, and a similar solo attempt minutes later ended high and wide.

Amorim reflected on the Argentine’s display post-match, noting that “sometimes, he is trying too much” and failed to make the best decisions in key areas.

United have now failed to score in more than a third of their league fixtures and have only won ten of their 30 matches. Their conversion rate of just 9.14 per cent is the fourth-worst in the top flight.

As the defeat at Forest showed once again, this is a team that needs a high volume of chances to score — and even then, they often come up empty-handed.

To address their chronic scoring issues, United may have no choice but to go all-in for a proven striker in the summer transfer window.

While the club have invested heavily in Hojlund, the young Dane has yet to deliver consistently at the top level. He has shown glimpses of promise but has not justified his significant price tag.

If United are serious about becoming a top side again, reinforcements are essential.

Victor Osimhen could be an obvious solution — a powerful, lethal finisher with a track record of delivering under pressure.

Another compelling option is Victor Gyökeres of Sporting, who has thrived under Ruben Amorim and could be an easier fit given the manager’s familiarity.

Neither player will come cheap and much will hinge on United’s ability to offload fringe players and secure European qualification.

Winning the Europa League would not only guarantee a Champions League spot but also boost the club’s appeal and financial muscle in the market — something Amorim and his players must now treat as a top priority.

Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images

Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Raj is a seasoned digital writer and editor with a deep-seated passion for football. With over four years in the digital space, he has contributed to Sportlens, ManUtdNews, and is now proudly writing for The Peoples Person. His work is driven by a commitment to capture the essence of football, delivering content that speaks to the heart of fans worldwide.

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