Ten Hag unearths hidden gem as Man Utd get creative with transfer plans
Tom Weber
- 15 Nov 2023 15:05 CST
- 4 min read
Lecce striker Nikola Krstovic has emerged as a shock Manchester United target, according to Italian media.
It is well-known that the Red Devils remain in the market for a striker despite the summer arrival of Rasmus Hojlund for a whopping €75 million. The young Dane can't stop scoring in the Champions League, hitting five goals in four games, but his dry spell in the Premier League extended to nine matches at the weekend against Luton.
The 20-year-old has not found the net once in the league and reports have suggested that Erik ten Hag and company are scouring the striker market for a potential partner for Hojlund or a player who could come in and take the pressure off the youngster at times.
READ: 'Predictable' Man Utd flop is undermining Hojlund and Ten Hag
Fellow baby-faced assassin Benjamin Sesko, whom the Red Devils are long-time admirers of, is once again being linked given that he has not managed to nail down a starting place at Leipzig, but a January move seems highly unlikely - and he wouldn't come cheap.
As there is still some uncertainty as to when Sir Jim Ratcliffe's cash injection will hit the Man Utd bank account, Ten Hag and his recruitment team are, as things stand, still forced to look at bargain options due to Financial Fair Play concerns and lack of funds. Now, Italian media claims that the Manchester giants may have unearthed a hidden gem.
🇲🇪 Nikola Krstović: @OfficialUSLecce's starting striker 9⃣ #LecceMilan pic.twitter.com/BnrV0RuUiC
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) November 11, 2023
United in for Krstovic?
According to Calciomercato, Nikola Krstovic of Lecce could be a budget option for Man Utd in January. The Montenegrin has impressed since arriving in Serie A in the summer and this has attracted the attention of several big hitters, it is claimed.
The 23-year-old has scored four times in 11 games in Italy's top flight and he also hit two goals in three games for DAC 1904 in Slovakia prior to his move in mid-August.
READ: How long is Rasmus Hojlund out due to injury?
"Manchester United are looking for a low-cost striker to finish the season and Lecce's [striker] could be an option," writes the Italian outlet. It is said that Krstovic could be had for a fee of around €10 million.
