Manchester United had a clear problem at the top end of the pitch in the 2024/25 campaign because their strikers simply did not provide enough quality in front of goal.
Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee did not do enough in the final third to be reliable enough options in the number nine position for the Red Devils, particularly in the Premier League.
Zirkzee ended the season with a return of three goals and one assist in 32 appearances in the top-flight, underperforming against his xG of 4.82, which was an incredibly underwhelming performance by the Netherlands international.
Hojlund, meanwhile, scored four goals and did not provide any assists in 32 outings in the Premier League, underperforming his xG of 5.24, and was as bad as his strike partner, as they both managed four goal contributions in 32 games, whilst both underperformed in front of goal.
Manchester United, as evidenced by Harry Maguire outperforming Hojlund, need a new number nine in the summer transfer window, due to how dismal their current options have been, to fix their problem in that area of the pitch.
Manchester United's striker problem in the Premier League
The Red Devils have had a big problem in the centre-forward position in the Premier League for a number of years, as the return of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2021 is the only time they have had a top-class, reliable, number nine in the last five years.
Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes finished the 2024/25 season as the club’s joint-top scorers in the top-flight with eight goals each, which illustrates how dire the situation is for Ruben Amorim’s side.
24/25
Amad Diallo & Bruno Fernandes (8)
23/24
Rasmus Hojlund & Bruno Fernandes (10)
22/23
Marcus Rashford (17)
21/22
Cristiano Ronaldo (18)
20/21
Bruno Fernandes (18)
As you can see in the table above, Ronaldo is the only out-and-out striker who has scored more than ten goals in a single Premier League season in the last five years, with winger Marcus Rashford and attacking midfielder Fernandes plugging the gaps in other years.
The last two seasons in particular have been very concerning for Manchester United because they have not had a single player score more than ten goals in the league, only a few seasons after they brought Ronaldo back to fire in 18 top-flight strikes.
As simple as it sounds, given that he is one of the greatest players to ever grace the game, United need to find their next Cristiano Ronaldo.
Not that they need to find a striker who is capable of winning five Ballon d’Or awards, but to at least sign a striker who can find the back of the net on a regular basis.
Man Utd eyeing swoop for Serie A marksman
According to Tutto Mercato Web, Manchester United are eager to sign Fiorentina centre-forward Moise Kean in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Premier League giants have shown the most interest in the Italy international, as they have sent scouts to watch him in action this season.
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It reveals that Kean could be on his way out of Florence ahead of the 2025/26 campaign and that United are keen to bring him back to the Premier League, where he previously played for Everton.
Tutto Mercato Web adds that the former Juventus marksman has a €52m (£44m) release clause in his contract with Fiorentina, which would allow the Red Devils to swoop in for a potential bargain.
The outlet does state, however, that Kean has doubts over a move to Old Trafford because of the lack of European football at the club next season.
If Manchester United can convince him to make the move back to England, irrespective of those doubts, then they could sign their best striker since Ronaldo.
Why Kean would be United's best striker since Ronaldo
Kean’s performances for Fiorentina in Italy this season suggest that he would arrive at Old Trafford as a clear upgrade on what Amorim currently has to select from in the centre-forward position.
Of course, that does not say too much when Hojlund and Zirkzee combined for seven goals in the Premier League during the 2024/25 campaign, as there is not too much competition to be the best number nine at the club.
The Italian attacker’s form for Fiorentina, though, suggests that he has the potential to be the best number nine Old Trafford has seen since Ronaldo.
Kean racked up an eye-catching haul of 25 goals in 44 matches in all competitions for the Italian side, which included a return of 19 goals in the Serie A.
The 25-year-old marksman, who was once hailed as “fearless” by manager Thomas Tuchel during their time together at PSG, also plundered five goals in 11 outings in the Conference League for Fiorentina.
Kean’s output in the Serie A, in particular, though, shows that he has the potential to be United’s best striker since Ronaldo, and possibly even better than the Portuguese icon.
Appearances
32
30
Goals
19
18
Minutes per goal
143
137
Conversion rate
18%
16%
Big chances created
4
7
Assists
3
3
As you can see in the table above, he scored more league goals than Ronaldo did in his first year back in Manchester, and scored more league goals than any United player has in the last five seasons.
This suggests that signing Kean would solve the club’s massive problem in the number nine position if he can translate his form in Italy over to the Premier League next season.
That is why paying his £44m release clause could be a worthwhile move for the Red Devils during the summer transfer window, as he has proven his quality in one of Europe’s major leagues as a consistent and reliable goalscorer.
£84m Garnacho upgrade: Man Utd in talks for 'one of the best in the world'
Man Utd appear to be seeking a statement replacement for Alejandro Garnacho this summer
ByRobbie Walls
It is now down to the board to get a deal over the line, by convincing him to make the move in spite of a lack of European football, in order to sign the team’s best striker since Ronaldo.
