Manchester United are being linked with a host of strikers, but Ademola Lookman might be the answer to several of their problems.
As we all know by now, the Red Devils are keen to sign a new centre-forward in the summer to replace the misfiring Rasmus Hojlund. Their shortlist features some impressive names, including Ruben Amorim’s old Sporting CP pupil Viktor Gyokers, Crystal Palace’s rising star Jean-Philippe Mateta, and the elusive Victor Osimhen.
But while these are all excellent marksmen in their own right, they wouldn’t exactly solve one of the most damning issue at Man Utd in recent years: The lack of creativity.
Outside of Bruno Fernandes and the currently injured Amad Diallo, the club hasn’t found players who are capable of creating chances on a consistent basis. This includes mercurial talents like Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee who haven’t always been consistent, while the wingbacks are offering more brawn than technique.
Now this doesn’t mean that the arrival of a top-notch Number 9 wouldn’t improve the team’s attacking stats, but we simply believe that these formidable profiles mentioned above might struggle to replicate the figures they’re currently registering if they were to join a team that doesn’t exactly feed them with a flurry goal-scoring opportunities every game.
Who knows, perhaps they could end up suffering a similar fate of a young striker who was deemed amongst the most promising in Europe following his breakthrough campaign in Serie A, only to slowly degenerate into a mocking figure that has become synonymous with the club’s worst campaign in 50 years.
Now we’re not suggesting that Rasmus Hojlund has been blameless, but his 20-match drought can also be attributed to several other factors rather than him being incapable of finding the back of the net. The club’s overall struggles have also taken their toll on his psyche, as he certainly doesn’t look like a young man enjoying his football at the moment.
Why Man United should go all-in for Ademola Lookman
Therefore, the addition of a speed demon with ‘scary’ dribbling skills like Lookman could be the trigger that Hojlund, or any other centre-forward for that matter, needs to start scoring on a regular basis. After all, these two players had enjoyed a brilliant partnership during their solitary campaign together in Bergamo.
“Hojlund and Lookman should be fined. They played for four against Lazio, but they were only two,” joked legendary Italian football manager Arrigo Sacchi when heaping praise on the duo who put Lazio to the sword in February 2023.
Therefore, being linked to the versatile Nigerian striker could be terrific news for Man Utd, as the 27-year-old is exactly the player they need to revitalize their barren attacking department, as his ability to drive the ball from midfield and storm into the box would create acres of space of any centre-forward, thus maximising his chances to find the back of the net.
Lookman is currently running on a contract expiring in June 2026, which could facilitate the mission to sign him. Moreover, his rebellious stance and public spat with his coach Gian Piero Gasperini could be another significant factor that drives him out of Bergamo, even though the two men have recently reconciled.
