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Photo: GiveMeSport — Football
United's deadline-day striker hunt, explained
Manchester United are heading into the final hours of the summer window with a striker-shaped hole to fill. Joshua Zirkzee's move to Fiorentina is not confirmed, but Fabrizio Romano's language around it is about as close to expectational as it gets without the words 'here we go'. If it happens, United need a centre-forward by Tuesday. Two names are already circling: Alexander Sørloth from Atlético Madrid, and Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Zirkzee: almost out the door
Zirkzee arrived at Old Trafford last summer with genuine promise, but one season appears to be the full extent of his United career. Romano has indicated the move to Fiorentina is expected to go through, though the deal is not yet officially confirmed. United, for their part, are not waiting around: according to Romano, the club are almost certain to pursue a replacement striker if the exit is completed.
The Sørloth option
Football365 reports that United have been contacted over a deal for Alexander Sørloth, the Norway international currently at Atlético Madrid. This is an approach rather than a concrete offer, and Diego Simeone's side would presumably need convincing to let a striker go at this stage of the window. Sørloth, though, has the physical profile and the European pedigree to make sense in Ruben Amorim's system, and at 30 he is a known quantity at the highest level.
The Mateta offer
Separately, GiveMeSport reports that United have been offered Jean-Philippe Mateta by Crystal Palace. This one came to United rather than the other way around, which matters: it suggests Palace are open to a sale and that the initiative is theirs. Mateta had a strong 2023-24 season at Selhurst Park and would represent a Premier League-proven option, though whether he fits the profile Amorim actually wants is a different question.
The clock
Two names, neither deal advanced, and Tuesday's deadline closing in. United are not in a position to be selective for long. Romano's 'almost guaranteed' framing means United's recruitment team has hours, not days, to turn one of these contacts into a deal.
Sources2 sources
GiveMeSport — Football, Football365
- [1] https://www.givemesport.com/man-utd-joshua-zirkzee-update-transfer-news-romano
- [2] https://www.football365.com/news/man-utd-transfers-news-striker-deal-alexander-sorloth-contact-atletico-madrid
- [3] https://www.givemesport.com/man-utd-offered-jean-philippe-mateta-transfer-crystal-palace
- [4] https://www.givemesport.com/man-utd-double-transfer-update-left-back-romano
- [5] https://www.givemesport.com/romano-issues-newcastle-united-transfer-update-ahead-deadline
Flagside's editors read every piece we publish. We work from the football press, write our own copy rather than reprinting anyone's, and check each article for accuracy and sourcing. Every outlet that fed into this piece is named under Sources.
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