Man Utd 'step up' striker pursuit

Stuart Telford

• 25 Jun 2023 15:13 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United are ready to 'step up' their search for a new striker as negotiations with Chelsea for the transfer of Mason Mount hit a stumbling block.

Erik ten Hag has made it clear to the Man Utd hierarchy that he wants a new striker for next season.

Cristiano Ronaldo may have left for Saudi Arabia under a cloud last winter, but the Portuguese nonetheless left a hole at the point of United's attack that Wout Weghorst proved unable to fill.

READ: Man Utd FURIOUS with Chelsea over Mason Mount chaos

Marcus Rashford scored 30 goals in all competitions last season, but his preference is to play on the left flank, and United need a central striker for him to play off.

Harry Kane was understood to be their top transfer target for the position, but with Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy a notoriously difficult negotiator, United have cooled on his signing in recent weeks.

— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) February 14, 2023

Hojlund, Kolo Muani and Kudus

Mount from Chelsea looked as good as done in the meantime, but the Blues have knocked back United's third bid for the midfielder - reportedly £55 million - and the Red Devils have an alternative for him, as well as returning to their striker hunt.

READ: Eriksen 'can see' Hojlund at Manchester United

"As well as preparing a bid for Moises Caicedo, Manchester United will also step up attempts to sign a new centre forward, with Rasmus Hojlund and Randal Kolo Muani the primary options being looked at," reports The Times' Jonathan Northcroft. "Mohammed Kudus is another who could come under consideration."

Hojlund and Kolo Muani have significantly different profiles.

The former has drawn comparisons with Erling Haaland due to his combination of height, pace and directness at Atalanta, while the latter is a France international who was previously a winger before blossoming as a central striker at Eintracht Frankfurt. Kudus himself says his best position is at attacking midfield, meanwhile.

They are valued at €24m, €60.2m and €14.1m respectively by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm.