Man Utd's Ronaldo replacement Choupo-Moting 'focused on Bayern'

FT Desk

• 6 Nov 2022 09:15 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United might not find it so easy trying to prise Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting away from Bayern Munich, with the former Stoke flop now filling Robert Lewandowski's boots in the Bundesliga.

Choupo-Moting has emerged as a surprise target for the Red Devils as they look to inject more firepower into their front line, and with Cristiano Ronaldo set to leave in January.

Followers of the Premier League may remember Choupo-Moting as a five-goal flop who got relegated with Stoke in 2018, but he has since turned out for PSG and Bayern, and this season is making fans of the latter quickly forget about Lewandowski.

READ: Why Choupo-Moting is the perfect antidote to Ronaldo at Man Utd

Lewandowski left acrimoniously in the summer after forcing through a €50 million transfer to Barcelona, but Choupo-Moting has proved a ready-made replacement, with his brace against Hertha Berlin on Saturday taking him to 10 goals in 14 games this season.

The Cameroon striker's contract at the Allianz Arena expires in the summer, and United hoped they could get him for a knockdown fee in January as a result, but it now looks more likely that the 33-year-old will extend his Bayern deal.

Choupo-Moting 'focused on Bayern'

“I'm just focused on FC Bayern and the here and now," he said after his recent two-goal heroics. "I'm very, very happy and could imagine staying here longer."

READ: Mane ‘fits into Bayern Munich like tofu and white sausage’

Choupo-Moting's emergence has allowed Sadio Mane - a €41m summer arrival from Liverpool - to be restored to his favoured position on the left of the attack, and Bayern look far more functional in the final third with a natural No.9.

United might still tempt Bayern and Choupo-Moting with a significant package, and they have a recent history of signing veteran strikers such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani, but his transfer value is growing by the game, despite his expiring contract.