United’s pursuit of lethal marksman just got harder as selling club takes drastic action to brace for bids – report

With goals in desperately short supply at Old Trafford last season, Manchester United were expected to go all in for a new striker this summer.

Blockbuster names such as Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres were bandied about but seem to be slipping away from the Red Devils, who have already missed out on priority target Liam Delap after he chose Chelsea instead.

Away from the headliners, United have a host of alternatives to look at – as outlined in our handy guide to the club’s centre-forward targets for the rest of the window.

No deal will be easy, but one for Porto’s Samu Aghehowa will be particularly difficult following developments at the Estádio do Dragão.

Porto complete the deal

Aghehowa moved from Atletico Madrid to Porto last year and enjoyed a stellar season in blue and white, scoring 27 goals in 45 games.

The Dragons paid Atletico just €15m for the player, but that only secured them 50% of his rights in a complicated agreement.

Record report that the 30-time league champions have now completed the deal and own the 21-year-old’s entire transfer rights, making him the most expensive signing in Portuguese football history in the process.

The purchase of the rest of his rights brings the club’s total investment in the Spaniard to €32m.

Bad news for United

It is significant that the club could have reached 100% ownership at any time before the end of next season but chose to lock the player down now.

Record note that the Dragons have made the move in “anticipation” of approaches from clubs looking to boost their forward options and expect that “interest in the striker will increase as the transfer window approaches its end.”

United are certainly an obvious contender to put in a late request for Aghehowa, and would be foolish not to consider the powerful forward, who was unplayable when the Red Devils played out a thrilling 3-3 Europa League draw against Porto last season.

Record call him one of the “revelations of European football last season” and note that the 21-year-old has his eye on a place in Luis de la Fuente’s World Cup squad.

Featured image Octavio Passos via Getty Images

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