A year ago
Man United 'have just £65m for a striker' after signing Mason Mount, which is 'nowhere near enough'
A recent report suggests that Manchester United may face significant challenges in their pursuit of a top-quality striker due to their limited budget of £65 million. The club is reportedly close to finalizing a £55 million deal for Chelsea's Mason Mount, which includes an additional £5 million in add-ons. However, with financial constraints and an ongoing sale process looming, it is anticipated that United's budgetary limitations could hinder their efforts to address their striking issues.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the £65 million allocated for a striker is considered insufficient to satisfy manager Erik ten Hag's desires. While the Mount deal progressed relatively swiftly compared to last summer's protracted negotiations, there remains a narrow window of opportunity to secure new talent before the start of the Premier League season.
Harry Kane was believed to be Ten Hag's preferred target, but Tottenham Hotspur is unlikely to entertain an offer of such low value, as they value the England captain closer to £100 million. Victor Osimhen of Napoli, another highly sought-after striker, has been assigned a £150 million price tag by the Serie A champions, well beyond United's restricted budget. Randal Kolo Muani from Eintracht Frankfurt and Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta are also potential options, but their respective valuations of £85 million and £86 million pose further financial obstacles for United.
While the possibility of generating additional funds through player sales exists, there are currently no indications of imminent departures that would significantly boost United's financial resources. They may hope to secure around £30 million from the potential sale of Anthony Martial, who has struggled to meet expectations as a number nine, managing just 17 goals in the past three seasons.
In addition to their striker conundrum, Manchester United also face challenges in their goalkeeper situation. David de Gea is set to depart at the end of his contract, and Dean Henderson is likely to be sold to Nottingham Forest. Ten Hag even intervened to block Tom Heaton's move to Luton Town to ensure the club retains fit senior goalkeepers until a suitable replacement is found.
With three friendlies scheduled against Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Borussia Dortmund in North America, Manchester United is keen to have a new striker in place to integrate with the squad ahead of competitive fixtures. Last season, United only signed Casemiro after a poor start to their campaign, and the acquisition of Anthony from Ajax was finalized on deadline day.
Overall, Manchester United's limited budget presents a significant challenge in their pursuit of a top-quality striker, requiring careful financial management and astute decision-making to address their striking deficiencies before the new season commences.
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