Manchester United’s first port of call this summer was adding goals to the first team after a dismal campaign in front of goal last time out.
Ruben Amorim has realised that Rasmus Hojlund cannot lead the line on his own, while he also needs to add creativity up front after seeing the Dane struggle due to the lack of service.
Which explains why Matheus Cunha has been brought in, while the Red Devils are also inching closer to a deal for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.
Both the Brazilian and the Cameroonian can play up front on their own, but Amorim would ideally like a ruthless No.9 which is why INEOS were trying to sign Liam Delap, and Viktor Gyokeres.
United cannot afford the wages of Dominic Calvert-Lewin
While the Englishman chose Chelsea, the Swede seems to prefer Arsenal currently, which is why the 20-time English league champions have pivoted to Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa.
His asking price and the Gunners’ lingering interest have emerged as obstacles for the Red Devils, and they had kept Dominic Calvert-Lewin as a backup option in case the void up front needed an emergency solution late on in the window.
But as revealed by journalist Ben Jacobs, the former Everton ace’s personal demands are quite staggering, which is why INEOS have stepped away from talks for now. He was earning £100,000 gross per week at Goodison Park (via capology).
The England international, owing to his free agent status, wants high weekly wages, and they will only return in case all their other plans go south, or the striker becomes desperate and reduces his demands late on in the window.
What next for United?
“Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s wage demands are very high, and therefore it is unlikely that Man United will move in that direction unless the demands decrease or they have a hole in the squad later in the window. As a free agent, the player will be rigid on his demands.”
He has over 50 Premier League goals for the Toffees, and managed three goals and two assists last season. On the face of it, it looks like a poor season, but he completed 90 minutes on only eight occasions.
The season prior, he had eight goals and three assists, again respectable figures, while back in the 20/21 season, he netted 21 times while also registering five assists.
His biggest asset is his physical ability and his aerial prowess, something United have lacked since Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo left. Not to mention his Premier League experience. But as of now, a deal looks unlikely.
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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
