Man Utd is plotting a major striker acquisition to succeed Edinson Cavani in 2022, and their four-man shortlist has been revealed.
Cavani signed a one-year extension to remain at Old Trafford this season after exceeding expectations last year. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has plenty of options at his disposal regarding who could succeed Cavani at the spearhead of his attack.
Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial can both play centrally, while Mason Greenwood is perhaps the most exciting option.
However, according to reports, Man Utd will dip into the transfer market when the time comes in 2022. It is believed that Man Utd have their sights set on a ‘move for a big-name forward next summer.
A four-strong list of elite-level attackers is described as being ‘on the table.’ Firstly, PSG superstar Mbappe is name-checked. The 22-year-old is in the final year of his contract in Paris.
Predictably, Real Madrid has been mooted as his likeliest destination. While Mbappe ‘has told senior team-mates he expects to stay this year,’ he is unlikely to remain beyond that.
At that point, Mbappe will be a free agent and the absence of a transfer fee is a ‘particularly attractive proposition’.
Man Utd is one of a select group of clubs that could absorb Mbappe’s lofty salary. Though it’s acknowledged Real Madrid would be Mbappe’s preferred choice if forced to choose between Spain and England.
Also on the list are Borussia Dortmund goal machine Erling Haaland, Tottenham captain Harry Kane and Inter’s Lautaro Martinez.
Haaland will be available for a maximum of £76.6m next year owing to his release clause. That figure was initially £63.9m. Though Dortmund successfully negotiated to increase the sum pending on-pitch achievements this season.
The race to sign Haaland next summer is expected to be hotly contested. And should Robert Lewandowski have his wish to experience a new challenge granted, Bayern Munich would be in the mix.
Kane remains a target for Man City in what would surely break the new British transfer record set by Jack Grealish at £100m. His desire to make a major move is unlikely to diminish should a deal to Man City not materialise this summer.
Argentine Martinez rounds out the list. The 23-year-old Inter forward would perhaps be the easiest deal to pull off given Inter’s financial hardship. However, he would also be the least appealing and has rarely played as a solo striker