Manchester United have Dusan Vlahovic and Ollie Watkins on their shortlist should they move for a new striker this summer. The Red Devils have spent heavily on their frontline over the past few years, with Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Joshua Zirkzee all among those to have arrived at Old Trafford for significant sums.
Zirkzee expected to leave
United's attack could potentially be in line for another reshuffle ahead of Michael Carrick's first full season in charge. Dutch forward Zirkzee is expected to depart, having endured an inconsistent two seasons with the club.
A number of clubs have expressed an interest in the 25-year-old, namely Juventus, Roma and Como, as per i News. All three are pursuing a loan deal, with either an obligation or option to buy included, despite United preferring a straight sale.
Vlahovic and Watkins targeted
Should Zirkzee be moved on before the deadline, that could see United move for a new forward. Both ex-Juventus man Vlahovic and Aston Villa star Watkins are among the names they are considering.
Vlahovic, 26, is currently without a club after running down his contract in Turin. He was linked with a move to Turkish giants Besiktas earlier this summer but that now seems unlikely.
“Regarding Vlahovic, since the player is a free agent, the matter is in his hands,” Besiktas director of sport Onder Ozer admitted previously. “If he prefers one of the major five leagues, then Turkiye isn’t one of them. If an opportunity does arise for Vlahovic, then of course we would want to evaluate it as a club.
“He had the best season of his career with Vincenzo Italiano at Fiorentina and the coach still occasionally speaks with him. He has great respect for the coach.
“There is surely a desire to work with him again, but the priority for players isn’t choosing a coach, it’s choosing a contract. I imagine Vlahovic is expecting a big contract and a team competing in the Champions League.”
Watkins has been regularly linked with a switch to Old Trafford, albeit Villa are expected to demand a lofty price, particularly after the sale of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea.
As it stands, neither Vlahovic nor Watkins are being actively pursued, at least while Zirkzee remains at the club. But that could change rapidly should the former Bayern Munich and Bologna man move closer to an exit.
Zirkzee joined United in a £36.5m move two years ago but he has scored just nine goals since then.
