After agreeing to sign Wout Weghorst on loan until the end of the season, Manchester United could look at three long-term striker options in the summer.
Harry Kane
Manchester United may never get a better chance to test Tottenham Hotspur’s resolve and try to lure Kane to Old Trafford this summer, as he is out of contract at the end of next season. The England captain will turn 30 in late July, and Spurs have yet to end their trophy drought, despite competing in both the FA Cup and the Champions League this season.
Victor Osimhen, Wout Weghorst, and Harry Kane (from left to right).
United, on the other hand, are in the last four of the Carabao Cup, which means they could end their trophy drought as soon as next month, and are making significant progress under Erik ten Hag, so much so that they could be the team that denies Spurs a place in Europe’s top club competition next season.
Spurs will demand a hefty transfer fee, regardless of Kane’s contract status ahead of this summer, especially given that owner Daniel Levy is not easily bargained with. However, in their search for an elite-level striker, United may not find anyone better than Kane, making him a bargain.
He is one of the world’s best strikers, and his track record speaks for itself. If he is given a chance at Old Trafford, he will have all of the tools he needs to thrive and propel Ten Hag’s side to even greater heights.
Kane’s Spurs contract expires next year (Photo: Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images).
Victor Osimhen
Napoli striker Osimhen is already on United’s radar, and his name is on the lips of many United fans. Since moving to Italy from Lille in July 2020, he has established himself as one of Europe’s most sought-after strikers.
The Nigeria international, who has a quick turn of speed and an excellent eye for goal, has scored 39 goals in 78 games for Napoli so far. Eleven of those 39 goals have been scored in just 16 games this season, indicating that he is beginning to increase his offen饾槾ive output.
Osimhen, who has only recently turned 24, is also in his prime, and he has the potential to lead United’s forward line for several years. His speed and goal-scoring record make him an appealing 釕璻os釕璭ct for any club, particularly United, who can be devastating when playing on the counter-attack with speed up front.
United have already added Osimhen to their transfer wish list, but they are aware that Napoli will demand a high fee to release him, especially if they win Serie A this season. He’d be an expensive addition, but he’d almost certainly be worth it.
Tammy Abraham
Given Timo Werner’s failure to pull up any trees at Stamford Bridge and the club’s struggles for goals this season, Chelsea will likely regret allowing Abraham to leave in August 2021 to join Roma. Although he has not scored as frequently as he would have liked this season, he did score 27 goals in his debut season in Italy last season.
The former Bristol City and Swansea City loanee excelled in his first season under former United manager Jose Mourinho, scoring 17 goals in Serie A and playing a key role in the club’s win of the Europa Conference League, scoring nine goals. He has grown as a striker since leaving Chelsea, and he deserves credit for putting himself out there.
Although he has only scored five goals this season, he would have snapped your hand off if you told him he would score 32 goals in his first 75 games in a Roma shirt. Throughout his career, his record in front of goal speaks for itself.
His contract status, like Osimhen’s, would imply that United would have to fork out a small fortune to sign him. However, the England international would bring something different to Old Trafford, and at 25, he still has time to improve.