29 May 2023 , 21:15
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Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has confirmed that his side are in the market for a striker this summer with Harry Kane and Mason Greenwood both in his thinking.
The Red Devils sealed a place in the Champions League this season and will be hoping to go one step further next campaign with a title push. One improvement they need to make is their goalscoring for the forthcoming campaign.
Whilst Marcus Rashford managed to score 30 goals in all competitions this term, their next most prolific striker was Anthony Martial. The Frenchman only scored nine goals throughout the season.
Speaking of Rashford’s stunning form, Ten Hag has hailed the work that the Red Devils’ academy graduate has done on the training field, whilst confirming that a striker is on the club’s shopping list. As quoted by The Times, he said: “What I have done? He’s [Rashford] a good football player, incredibly good and his finishing attributes are high.”
“So, first of all, I make a culture where he can perform. Then I get him motivated and then construct a way of play where he can do it. And fitness, as well, don’t forget that part. When those four aspects are there Marcus Rashford will score.
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“He can play as a centre forward, can play from the left, can play from the right. When you see his stats, he is scoring everywhere but he feels more comfortable as a centre forward or from the left.”
He added: “What we need besides Marcus Rashford is one extra player with scoring abilities whether it’s coming out of our own squad or we have to sign one.”
Tottenham striker Harry Kane having been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford, though United's transfer plans are currently on hold amid the ongoing takeover process, with Ten Hag even admitting just a few weeks ago he was unclear how big of a budget he had to spend on new recruits this summer. Spurs will demand at least £100m for talisman Kane, who will enter the final 12 months of his contract off the back of scoring 30 times in the Premier League this season.
One option for United could potentially be the return of academy graduate Mason Greenwood. The striker remains suspended by the club whilst they conduct an internal investigation which has been ongoing since charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault were dropped against him back in February.
Asked whether Greenwood could provide the sort of firepower United need, Ten Hag stated that the forward “showed in the past that he is capable of doing that [scoring goals]”. However, the Dutchman also reaffirmed that the decision to potentially reintegrate him would not be his.
Greenwood, 21, has made 129 appearances for United since breaking through into the first team, scoring 35 goals. His last outing for the Red Devils came in January 2022.
Whilst Kane and Greenwood could be options for United next season, they have also been linked with another frontman in the form of Napoli sensation Victor Osimhen. Reports in Italy suggest that he could pen a new deal to stay at Napoli as the reigning Serie A champions attempt to fight off a number of suitors.