Manchester United boosted their frontline with the marquee addition of Joshua Zirkzee in July, but reports suggest he was not their first choice option and could even have been joined by another striker.
The United frontline has been understaffed and underperforming for years, and The Athletic report that Benjamin Sesko was the club’s preference to address the issue.
And it was only after the towering Slovenian committed his future to RB Leipzig that United turned their attention to Zirkzee, whose £36.5m capture from Bologna was still seen as a significant improvement – scouts and manager alike were very happy to welcome him to the club.
The 23-year-old Dutchman is the second striker signed by Erik ten Hag. Like 21-year-old Rasmus Hojlund, who arrived last year from Atalanta in a £64m deal, he was plucked from a Serie A overachiever following a relatively short time in the top flight.
And according to The Athletic, United gave strong consideration to adding a further centre forward to their squad during the summer, one with more experience of leading the line at the highest level and preferably in the Premier League.
Ivan Toney, who racked up 67 goals in 128 games for Brentford, was the obvious candidate.
At 28, and off the back of his infamous no-look penalty at the Euros, the Englishman should be in his prime and was long linked with a switch to a big club – United were linked all summer long, as were Chelsea.
But as the months passed and his price fell, Toney eventually made an underwhelming deadline day switch to Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League.
27-year-old Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin was also reportedly in the frame to bring some experience to United’s attack, but again a move failed to materialise – last season’s eight-goal return was a far cry from the 18 he netted the year before.
The Athletic report that “United had looked at Calvert-Lewin as an option for a third-choice striker once Zirkzee joined, aware that Everton were under pressure to sell due to the player having one year left on his contract.” However, when Scott McTominay showed little appetite for joining the Toffees, United dropped interest in the 27 year old.
The club have arguably never adequately replaced Robin van Persie, despite signing a slew of superstars to lead the line.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic swaggered into Old Trafford and hit 28 goals – he would certainly have broken the 30 barrier had injuries permitted – and Edinson Cavani had some success before going off the boil and departing for Valencia.
But Radamel Falcao failed to live up to the hype, and Anthony Martial left on a free transfer earlier this summer, concluding one of the most frustrating Old Trafford tenures in recent memory.
The current crop of forwards have boundless potential and the great hope is that at least one of them will be able to build a legacy at United.
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