Manchester United are in danger of starting the season without a new striker as they struggle to compete with their Premier League rivals.
On the day that Marcus Rashford left Old Trafford on loan to Barcelona, it emerged that the United hierarchy accept Ruben Amorim’s side could kick off the new campaign against Arsenal next month without a new signing to lead the attack.
United have spent more than £130million this summer on Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, but they are expected to play as the two No.10s in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.
The Portuguese coach also wants a new striker with Premier League experience, but United missed out on top target Liam Delap when he chose to join Chelsea instead, while Viktor Gyokeres and Hugo Ekitike are headed for Arsenal and Liverpool respectively.
United are trying to raise money by selling players and have been linked with a range of strikers from Paris St Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani, Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa and RB Leipzig front man Benjamin Sesko to free agents such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Ruben Amorim is at risk of starting the new season with Man United without a new striker
Man United missed out on top target Liam Delap to Chelsea, while Hugo Ekitike completed his move to Liverpool on Wednesday
While Man United signed Bryan Mbeumo this week, adding to Matheus Cunha’s arrival, the hierarchy accept a new striker may not be signed in time for the start of the season
Another option would be a swap deal with Chelsea involving Alejandro Garnacho and Nicolas Jackson.
Amorim will have been relieved to secure Mbeumo’s signing just in time for United’s pre-season tour to the US, even though the move earned neighbours Manchester City £6.5m due to a 10 per cent sell-on clause in the Cameroonian’s transfer from Troyes – owned by the City Football Group – to Brentford in 2019.
