Not that it wasn’t earlier than the short-lived return of Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United, however the centre-forward berth has been a fair larger drawback within the years since.
Certainly, the 2022/23 season noticed Anthony Martial rating simply 9 occasions in all competitions, together with simply six within the Premier League, whereas January arrival Wout Weghorst netted simply twice following his shock change from Burnley.
The next marketing campaign noticed an injury-hit Martial rating simply twice himself in all competitions, whereas new man Rasmus Hojlund did fireplace 16 occasions, albeit with simply ten of these coming within the league.
Hojlund then adopted that up with ten targets throughout all fronts final time period, with simply 4 of these coming within the top-flight. £36.5m arrival Joshua Zirkzee, in the meantime, netted seven occasions, of which solely three have been within the league.
The actual fact of the matter is, United merely haven’t got a confirmed goalscorer to rely on, with the current defeat to Everton highlighting why that man Zirkzee – who hasn’t scored a league purpose for nearly a 12 months – simply is not the answer.
The newest on Joshua Zirkzee’s future
Within the absence of Benjamin Sesko – who himself has scored solely twice following his £74m change from RB Leipzig – it was Zirkzee who obtained the nod in opposition to the Toffees, having featured for simply 90 minutes in whole all season previous to that.
Rusty or not on his first begin of 2025/26, the Dutchman appeared painfully out of his depth at occasions, so at odds with the rampant velocity and physicality of Premier League soccer.
There have been moments of high quality, together with two well-guided headers and an inviting cross throughout the field, however the 24-year-old was largely ineffective up in opposition to the wily James Tarkowski, notably dropping the ball 12 occasions from simply 35 touches.
Supplied a uncommon alternative to flourish, the previous Bologna man showcased simply why he has been a bystander to proceedings for a lot of the marketing campaign up to now, additional throwing into doubt his long-term future at Previous Trafford.
Certainly, the most recent experiences have steered that the 6 foot 4 enigma might need already stated sure to becoming a member of AS Roma on an preliminary mortgage deal in January, having beforehand been named Serie A’s Younger Participant of the 12 months again in 2023/24.
Whereas United’s choices in assault will likely be restricted even additional by Amad and Bryan Mbeumo’s upcoming AFCON commitments, it might not be a shock for Zirkzee to depart upon their return within the New 12 months, with seven targets in 55 whole video games for the membership making for grim studying for any centre-forward.
There’s a expertise in there, along with his fleet of foot and silky contact sparking comparisons to a determine like Dimitar Berbatov, though in United’s present interval of flux beneath Ruben Amorim, they desperately want an out-and-out goalscorer.
Fortunately, INEOS have already signed one.
Man Utd’s “homegrown Osimhen” can substitute Zirkzee
With Sesko and Matheus Cunha each sidelined, it was stark how little attacking depth United had in reserve, with Mason Mount the one actual senior ahead for Amorim to show to on the bench.
|
Man Utd Scorers – 25/26 |
|
|---|---|
|
Participant |
File |
|
Bryan Mbeumo |
6 |
|
Casemiro |
3 |
|
Bruno Fernandes |
2 |
|
Benjamin Sesko |
2 |
|
Harry Maguire |
1 |
|
Matthijs de Ligt |
1 |
|
Mason Mount |
1 |
|
Amad |
1 |
|
Matheus Cunha |
1 |
Whereas 18-year-old starlet Shea Lacey was featured within the matchday squad, there have been eyebrows raised on the choice to miss his academy colleague, Chido Obi, with Zirkzee finally taking part in the total 90 minutes.
Obi was parachuted into the first-team set-up as a drastic measure final season, amid United’s harm disaster, having made eight senior appearances in whole 2024/25, albeit with out scoring.
Frustratingly for the 17-year-old – who did rating on the post-season tour in opposition to Hong Kong – he hasn’t been seen since within the senior set-up, with Amorim suggesting that he had been promoted “too quickly” final time period.
“He [Chido] performed final 12 months, however I believe it was too quickly,” stated Amorim final week. “We did not have a group we might put a younger child of 16 into and him not battle.
“He is one of many guys however he began too quickly. Generally it is exhausting to take care of that, with the youngsters, as a result of they assume that ‘I am already right here’. We must be cautious with that.”
There is no denying that Obi did look uncooked, not least on his solitary begin in opposition to Brentford, however he additionally confirmed flashes of his simple expertise, having come near changing from the angle within the FA Cup conflict with Fulham at Previous Trafford.
Signed from Arsenal in the summertime for 2024, the free-scoring ahead has ripped it up at youth stage in current occasions, scoring 32 occasions in simply 21 U18 video games for the Gunners, as per Transfermarkt, whereas following that up with 12 targets in ten U18 video games for United.
With 5 targets in 13 this time period within the age group above, Obi is once more displaying simply why he deserves a second likelihood beneath Amorim, with {the teenager} representing the orthodox centre-forward choice that Zirkzee merely is not.
Described as a “homegrown Osimhen” by Arsenal content material creator Will Balsam, the Danish youth worldwide is likely to be the proper understudy to Sesko, reasonably than Zirkzee, with Amorim’s set-up demanding a extra cellular, dynamic choice to run the channels.
After all, Amorim is sensible to watch out with the event of such a expertise, however at a time when a string of centre-forward signings have not labored out, why not dip into Carrington once more?
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