Manchester United are expected to remain busy during the next summer transfer window, and buying one or two strikers should be their top priority.
Louis van Gaal has been brutally criticised this season for being too negative and boring. Manchester United have always been an entertaining side under Sir Alex Ferguson, but this season, we saw that not only have the goals dried up, but the club have struggled to create enough chances as well.
Wayne Rooney, the United skipper, has managed only seven league goals this season and he has struggled with fitness and consistency. The onerous burden of scoring has naturally fallen on to the shoulders of young players: Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.
United need a top striker in the side, if they are serious about challenging for the Premier League title next season. Let us take a look at some of the top strikers in the world United can target in the summer:
Romelu Lukaku
The Belgian striker is on course to becoming the first striker since Gary Lineker in 1986 to score 30 goals in a season. His outstanding form has brought attentions from other clubs. Lukaku feels that the time is right for him to test himself at a bigger club.
The 22-year-old has said recently that he wants to play in the Champions League, something Everton cannot offer him next season. The investment of Iranian billionaire Farhad Moshiri has opened up the possibility of Everton spending big next season, but it seems unlikely that they could hold on to the Belgian striker any longer.
His former club Chelsea and German giants Borussia Dortmund are reportedly interested in signing him, but Lukaku’s father wants him to join Manchester United or Bayern Munich instead.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
The 26-year-old striker has enjoyed a phenomenal campaign with Dortmund. He has scored 35 goals in all competitions already, and has been one of the key personnel behind Dortmund’s impressive rise under Thomas Tuchel.
Aubameyang has been repeatedly linked with a move to top Premier League clubs, but his move to Manchester United will largely depend on whether the club can offer him Champions League football or not.
Another problem United might face is convincing the Gabon international to join them, as the striker holds a soft spot for Real Madrid. The La Liga giants have reportedly set their sight on Aubameyang, and there could be only one winner, should a bidding war between the two clubs arise.
Gonzalo Higuain
At 28, Higuain is playing at the peak of his form. The Argentine has always been a great goal scorer, and this season he has been sensational as well. In his first season at Naples, he scored 24 goals. 29 came in his second season. This season, he has crossed 30, and has helped his club to mount a strong title challenge.
Can Higuain join Manchester United? Yes. Although the Argentine would love to play in the Champions League, but he would still prefer a move to United, provided he gets to work with Jose Mourinho.
Alvaro Morata
The Spain international is not the first choice of Juventus manager Max Allegri. He hasn’t got enough chances in the Serie A as well. But, Morata has a reputation of performing in big games. And he showed the world his calibre by producing a stunning performance against Bayern Munich in the Round of 16 Champions League second leg in Germany.
He is only 23 and there is a lot of room for improvement. So, taking a gamble on him isn’t a bad idea. Madrid are looking to use their buyback clause to sign him and then sell him for a handsome profit. Morata needs regular game time and therefore could be attracted to move elsewhere, but will he join a club that cannot him Champions League football, remains to be seen.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The Swede international has revealed that he has offers from Premier League clubs and will assess the situation after the end of the season.
Manchester United have reportedly offered him a deal, and Zlatan could likely to say ‘yes’ to their proposal, provided the Red Devils hire Mourinho as their next manager.
Zlatan has enjoyed a superb campaign for PSG this season, and at 34, he is still one of the best in the world. United should not miss the opportunity of signing him on a free transfer.
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