Ademola Lookman would be perfect for Man Utd – View | OneFootball

Manchester United are toothless in attack this season. The Reds struggle to finish off chances, with strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee failing to lead the line well.

In the inside forward role in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation, the Man Utd manager has consistently altered the combinations. However, he is missing a forward who can play between the lines, linking midfield to attack.

This individual must also be able to provide numbers in the final third for Man Utd. It is a rare profile, but the club identified one player perfect for the position – Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku. They could not get a deal for the Frenchman over the line.

Fortunately for the Red Devils, another opportunity to fill that squad hole is opening up.

Atalanta attacker Ademola Lookman was at the centre of major criticism from manager Gian Piero Gasperini, who blasted him as the worst penalty-taker he has ever seen when the Nigerian international (23 caps) missed against Club Brugge as La Dea were eliminated from the Champions League. The player did not take it well, and rightly so.

Lookman wanted to leave last summer and will be determined again when the transfer window opens after his manager’s uncouth outburst. Man Utd should be looking to make Old Trafford his next stomping ground.

Lookman, the reigning CAF African Footballer of the Year, would slot in perfectly in the 3-4-2-1 Man Utd formation, playing off the left inside forward space. It would be perfect for him.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or nominee (14th) would bring the numbers that Man United are currently missing in attack. This season, the 27-year-old has 15 goals and seven assists in 28 appearances.

He is on course to break his record of 17 goals and 10 assists in 45 appearances last term, including a hat-trick in the Europa League final. United could use this consistent production.

At Sporting CP, Amorim had the technically excellent Pedro Goncalves in that role, and Lookman can be his star at Man United. He could be especially lethal when paired with a striker, as we’ve seen with Mateo Retegui (Atalanta) and Victor Osimhen (Nigeria).

Lookman is a proven quantity. He can create and finish chances, making him an ideal candidate to solve Manchester United’s attacking woes. Despite struggling at Everton, he has found his footing and would love another crack at the Premier League.

The added motivation of proving his critics wrong, particularly after the public criticism from his manager, could ignite a fire in Lookman, pushing him to deliver even better performances at United.

Lookman is a potentially transformative acquisition for United, offering a tangible solution to their toothless attack and a pathway back to challenging for top honours.

The upcoming transfer window presents a golden opportunity for Manchester United to rectify their offensive struggles, and Lookman appears to be the perfect piece of the puzzle.