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Manchester United put quite a lot of time, vitality and cash into beefing up their attacking choices over the summer season.
Regardless of losing 1-0 to Arsenal yesterday the rejuvenated frontline regarded promising, with new signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha entertaining the Previous Trafford crowd and newest arrival Benjamin Sesko getting some invaluable minutes below his belt.
Even Mason Mount performed nicely on the left of the entrance three, and may he acquire some momentum he could be one thing like a brand new signing having did not make a lot of an impression since becoming a member of from Chelsea two years in the past.
Altering of the guard
The inflow of latest attacking expertise seems to be set to assert its first sufferer in Rasmus Hojlund, the misfiring quantity 9 who managed solely 4 Premier League targets final season.
Sesko, signed in a deal which may attain over £70m, is a like-for-like alternative and the truth that Hojlund didn’t make the matchday squad in opposition to Arsenal signifies that he now not has a spot in Ruben Amorim’s squad. The younger Dane is considered on his way to AC Milan.
United’s different centre-forward possibility final season, Joshua Zirkzee, additionally struggled for targets throughout his debut marketing campaign at Previous Trafford, however grew into himself over the course of the season and was a giant loss when sidelined by harm in the direction of the top.
He may also anticipate to see his minutes restricted with the recruitment of a brand-new entrance three and fewer aggressive matches to play than final season because of the lack of European soccer, and stories in Italy declare he has appeared on the radar of Serie A giants Napoli.
Napoli curiosity in Zirkzee
Napoli had been richly rewarded final time they purchased a participant from United, with Scott McTominay making the change and turning into the driving drive of their Serie A triumph.
However their title defence has taken a hammer blow with fundamental striker Romelu Lukaku injured in a pleasant simply days earlier than the brand new season will get underway.
As such Antonio Conte’s aspect are scrambling for a brand new striker, regardless of already signing a brand new one in Lorenzo Lucca earlier this yr, and Zirkzee’s title has appeared on their listing.
Corriere dello Sport are clear that Napoli are simply searching for a mortgage, and that the extent of Lukaku’s harm continues to be being assessed, however the champions are losing no time assessing their choices.
“Previous favorite” Zirkzee has previously attracted interest from the club, and the report notes that his enjoying time is prone to be restricted at Previous Trafford this season.
Zirkzee “is aware of the Italian league, continues to be value rather a lot, however has inevitably depreciated”, and CdS add that he could be reunited with former Bologna teammate Sam Beukema and Dutch worldwide Noa Lang.
He’s one in every of 4 choices into account, together with Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta, Roma’s Artem Dovbyk and Lecce’s Nikola Krstovic.
Conte’s favorite
The story is already gathering tempo, with Italian journalist Marco Conterio calling Zirkzee Conte’s “favorite”, and suggesting the previous Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur boss favours United’s Dutch ahead as a result of he may also play as a winger.
Conterio throws two extra alternate options into the combo in Sassuolo’s Andrea Pinamonti and Cagliari’s Roberto Piccoli.
🚨🔵 Il #Napoli corre ai ripari dopo il ko di Romelu Lukaku: il preferito di Conte è Joshua Zirkzee
Il tecnico salentino ha chiesto l’olandese del #MUFC perché può fare anche l’esterno. Visto il lungo cease che rischia il belga, il ds Manna nelle ultime ore ha ricevuto tante… pic.twitter.com/MucNBsCOAk
— Marco Conterio (@marcoconterio) August 18, 2025
United would seemingly be reluctant to half with Zirkzee, who steadily discovered kind and would hyperlink up nicely with the brand new crop of attackers. Not like Hojlund there was no critical discuss of an exit this summer season due to the brand new recruits, and the rumours that he was already on the switch listing shortly died down.
A straight mortgage with no purchase possibility might be a risk-free means of conserving maintain of the 24-year-old however giving him extra minutes, however there’s no assure that after Lukaku returns to health he wouldn’t spend a lot of the season sat on the bench in Naples.
Featured picture Carl Recine through Getty Photographs
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