Transfer showdown brews as United make fresh play for £44.5m ice-cold finisher tempted by Saudi riches – report

Manchester United are seemingly intensifying their search for a new and reliable goalscorer, which saw them recently express their interest in Fiorentina star Moise Kean.

After a limp 2024/25 season that saw United slump to 15th with a -10 goal difference, bolstering the attack became the club’s main focus heading into the summer transfer window.

United confirmed the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month, and negotiations for Bryan Mbeumo are progressing, with a second offer for the Brentford forward submitted on Monday. But United also want a striker.

Rasmus Hojlund endured another difficult campaign, proving once again that he currently doesn’t have what it takes to be United’s primary striker. There have also been suggestions that the Dane is on his way out of the club, amidst interest in his signature from Italy.

United identified Liam Delap as their first-choice target but he snubbed them in favour of a switch to Chelsea. The Red Devils continue to be linked to the likes of Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP), Victor Osimhen (Napoli) and Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig), but all of them carry hefty price tags and are almost certainly out of the club’s reach this summer.

Another option that has emerged over the past few weeks is Kean.

Kean enjoyed a resurgence at Fiorentina last season after a difficult spell at Everton. He scored 19 goals and provided three assists in 32 Serie A appearances, helping the side secure a European place.

A report covered by The Peoples Person earlier this month relayed that United were considering triggering Kean’s release clause, which is believed to be worth around £44.5million.

But United aren’t alone in their interest, with Saudi outfit Al Qadsiah also eyeing him. Al Qadsiah are understood to have already offered Kean a mega contract worth €15m per year.

This has been confirmed by reliable Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, who goes on to add that United remain in the race for the 25-year-old despite Al Qadsiah’s strong advances.

According to Di Marzio, “The Arabs of Al-Qadsiah are serious about Moise Kean . The club is ready to pay the player’s clause of 52 million euros. The striker was offered 15 million euros per year. The player is taking time to evaluate the offer.

“On Saturday 21 June, Manchester United made inquiries about the player.”

Meanwhile, Fiorentina are preparing for life without Kean and have already started looking at potential replacements.

Feature image Gabriele Maltinti via Getty Images

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