Haller, Nunez or Calvert-Lewin? Five forwards who could transfer to Man Utd this summer
Karan Tejwani
- Updated: 5 May 2022 18:34 BST
- 5 min read
Manchester United are set for a huge summer with a fair few incomings and outgoings at the club.
Erik ten Hag's arrival at Old Trafford is expected to shake things up, with the Dutchman expected to stamp his authority on the squad.
One particular area he will be looking to improve is in attack, seeing as they are short on options and the potential departures of Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo could further deplete that area.
FootballTransfers takes a look at some potential options that could join the club this summer.
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Five forwards Man Utd could potentially sign in the summer
Darwin Nunez is a player attracting plenty of transfer interest, with the Uruguayan forward impressing with 34 goals in 40 appearances for Benfica this season.
The Telegraph have reported that several clubs across Europe are interested in the forward including Manchester United, Newcastle United and Atletico Madrid, and any pursuit will cost upwards of €70 million.
It was reported that Manchester United had a scout present at the Estadio da Luz when Benfica took on Liverpool in the Champions League, a game in which Nunez was on the scoresheet.
Nunez versatility and ability to play anywhere across the forward line is of keen interest to many scouts, and his energy would be useful in United’s youthful attack.
Another exciting young forward, 22-year-old Jonathan David has been amongst the top stars in Ligue 1 this season, scoring 13 league goals – although he has only found the back of the net once since the turn of the year.
David joined Lille from Gent in the summer of 2020, but struggled to make an impact in his first few months.
However, in 2021, his and Lille’s form shot up and he was crucial in their run to pipping Paris Saint-Germain to the championship in France.
🇨🇦 | Jonathan David scored 40% of Canada’s goals during World Cup qualifying…
Assisting his side to their first World Cup since 1986. #Qatar2022
pic.twitter.com/6Qp3GHHgfw— Planet Sport (@PlanetSportcom) April 6, 2022
In 2021, he had 37 goal contributions across all competitions in the calendar year – one of the best returns in the country.
Additionally, he has also played in the Champions League for Lille and spurred Canada on to World Cup qualification, which they secured in the most recent international break.
A player of great tenacity and determination with smart decision-making on the ball, he could be a valuable to any forward line provided there is the right support around him.
The only player on this list currently playing in the Premier League, Dominic Calvert-Lewin could be on the move very soon.
Everton’s problems could see them go down and that may result in a mass exodus, with Calvert-Lewin amongst the top candidates to leave.
Although the Englishman has seen his season hampered with injury, there is no doubt that he is still a very good footballer and still only 25, there is a high ceiling to get better.
The previous two campaigns provided stellar returns for Calvert-Lewin, having netted 36 goals, and that could surely improve with better support around him at Man Utd.
Calvert-Lewin tends to be a nuisance in the air, and with quality around him like Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho, there is little doubt he could bring that back should he make a move to Old Trafford.
A bit of a left-field option to the rest, Sassuolo’s Gianluca Scamacca could be of interest to Manchester United.
The 23-year-old has enjoyed a fine rise over the last two years, having scored 25 Serie A goals over the last two years for Genoa and Sassuolo.
Sassuolo also have a great track record of developing top-level players, with examples being Domenico Berardi and Manuel Locatelli, both of whom starred in Italy’s success at Euro 2020 last summer.
The Italian club are believed to want upwards of €35m for the forward, and United could face competition from two Serie A clubs: Milan and Inter.
The forward, who stands at 1.95m, is a threat in the air, and has formed a solid partnership with the more agile Giacomo Raspadori.
Compared to some of the other names linked with Manchester United in recent times, Scamacca would be one of the cheaper options and certainly one to consider.
A link born out of Man Utd appointing Erik ten Hag as head coach this summer, Sebastien Haller would be a sensible option.
Haller worked with Ten Hag at Utrecht and the pair are currently together at Ajax, and both times, he has proven to be a valuable forward.
The Ivorian forward has scored 46 goals since joining Ajax in January 2021, including 11 in eight appearances in the Champions League this season.
Although he is often criticised for his lack of mobility in Ten Hag’s attacking team, his output is incredible and his awareness in attack is exceptional.
Ajax spent €22.5m to acquire him from West Ham last season – a club record fee – and will likely get more than that should they sell him on.
Although Haller’s last stint in the Premier League didn’t go as planned, a move with Ten Hag could change that and get the best out of him like his spell at Ajax has done.
