Man Utd urged to sign PL ‘hero waiting to happen’ to finally solve longstanding goalscoring woes

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·11 de fevereiro de 2025

Man Utd urged to sign PL ‘hero waiting to happen’ to finally solve longstanding goalscoring woes

Ian Wright has weighed in on Manchester United’s longstanding predicament up front, which is still as flagrant as ever despite the club shelling out over £100 million the last two summers.

Neither Joshua Zirkzee (£36.5m) nor Rasmus Hojlund (£64m) have been able to find the back of the net in the Premier League since the start of December, which is pretty astounding – even with the side in as tumultuous form as they are.

Vídeos OneFootball

It’s not like they haven’t been given the opportunities, either. Particularly Hojlund, who remains United’s first-choice No.9 and occupies the centre-forward position in each of his outings, whereas Zirkzee often drops back into the midfield to try and inspire an attack and get the ball moving.

Come the summer window, United are again expected to be on the market for forwards. Whether that means one of the current duo will depart remains to be seen, as the Dane is said to be being targeted by Juventus.

Wright: United should pursue ex-Blue Liam Delap

Delap has outscored both of United’s strikers this season. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

Analysing United’s struggles this week, Wright urged INEOS chiefs to go all-out for Ipswich Town talisman Liam Delap, formerly of Manchester City’s academy.

The 22-year-old has notched nine goals in his breakout top-flight campaign, having only played a reduced role at the Etihad prior to his £20m switch last year. Should Ipswich drop back down to the Championship in May, you’d expect Delap would push for a move to remain in the top division.

“Go and get Delap. The thing is he’s got that hunger and disrespect for everybody, and it just feels like the kind of player they need,” said the Arsenal legend on the Wrighty’s House podcast. “They need a hero like that, and he’s a hero waiting to happen. He’s hungry.

“Obviously, Zirkzee came on (against Leicester recently), and he got one, but I don’t think they put the ball in the box enough. I don’t think there’s anyone in the box for when the cross comes in. I don’t think they link the play or keep the ball well enough in the final third to sustain pressure on a team.

“They lose the ball, and then teams can break on them. There’s no structure to whether they are going to try to play through teams or around them. So the forwards don’t know what’s coming. They don’t get the kind of service they depend on.

“When’s the last time you saw a Man United player score a goal where he’s got across a guy at a near post? You don’t see those goals from Man United.”

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