Manchester United gaffer Erik ten Hag is desirous of signing a new striker when the transfer window reopens as Anthony Martial and Wout Weghorst were only able to manage just nine goals between them this season.
The Dutchman has apparently compiled a six-man transfer shortlist to replace Wout Weghorst this summer as the 30-year-old striker has scored just two goals in 26 games for United on loan from Championship winners Burnley in January since being ceremoniously welcomed by Ten Hag with open arms then. The Netherlands international has been greeted with a stone cold silence this period since his performance has spiralled downwards considerably and his temporary deal expires at the end of the season. This conveniently opens up the door for Ten Hag to look for a replacement.
The Manchester Evening News reports that United have decided against giving Weghorst a permanent deal. The lanky Dutch striker was signed to replace Cristiano Ronaldo, who left United by mutual consent in November after his explosive interview with Piers Morgan and has since joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.
The belief is that Tottenham’s Harry Kane is the main priority sitting at the top of Ten Hag’s shortlist, with the England captain’s contract at Spurs up for expiry in June 2024. The United manager is allegedly ‘obsessed’ with Kane, 29, who has amassed 25 Premier League goals for Spurs this season.
The seasoned striker has scored at least 24 goals per season for the last nine years. However, despite Kane being United’s preferred target, Ten Hag is prepared to look elsewhere as the club do not wish to be held to ransom by the hard-negotiating Tottenham chief Daniel Levy. That aside, they also have no intentions to be drawn into a protracted transfer saga after missing out on Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong last summer.
Among the other five targets is Victor Osimhen, 24, who has scored 22 league goals to blast Napoli to the Serie A title this season. Another is Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani, a 24-year-old France international with 21 goals to his name this campaign.
Osimhen and Kolo Muani are also on Ten Hag’s shortlist, together with Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund. The 20 years old Danish star has scored 14 goals for Atalanta and former side Sturm Graz this season.
Another name on Ten Hag’s shortlist is Goncalo Ramos, who graced the headlines last year with his hat-trick for Portugal in their 6-1 victory against Switzerland at the World Cup in Qatar. The 21-year-old has also impressed for Benfica this term, scoring 25 goals.
The final one on Ten Hag’s list is Mohammed Kudus, a player whom the United gaffer knows well after signing him for Ajax in July 2020. The Ghana international, 22, scored a brace in a 3-2 win against South Korea at the World Cup in Qatar and has 18 club goals this campaign.