Bruno Fernandes is the benchmark when it comes to signings at Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson, but despite a brief romance, one Zlatan Ibrahimovic is close behind him in terms of making an immediate impact at Old Trafford.
There were eyebrows raised when Jose Mourinho plucked the 34-year-old from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in 2016, but the enigmatic Swede had just come off an impressive season in which he scored 50 goals in all competitions in France.
United quickly became ‘Zlatan’s team’ from those words, most notably scoring the winning goal in the Community Shield on his debut and scoring home from range against Bournemouth in his first Premier League start.
Injury may have brought an abrupt end to a season that included a double Carabao Cup final at Wembley, but the now-retired maverick’s 38 goals and assists in all competitions firmly erased any doubters, making his stay short and fruitful for United.
There were a number of short-term striker signings after that, but none of them had such a big impact. Could things change this summer?
Manchester United put offer on the table for marquee striker
Ibramović set the tone for what would become a turbulent era at Old Trafford, with the likes of Edinson Cavani, Odion Ighalo, Wout Weghorst and, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo all joining as immediate replacements for the aging centre-forward.
Contracts for selected strikers | ||
|---|---|---|
player | game | the goal |
Sesco | 28 | 10 |
jirkzee | 69 | 9 |
Hoylund | 95 | 26 |
weghorst | 31 | 2 |
Ronaldo* | 54 | 27 |
Ighalo | twenty three | 5 |
cavani | 59 | 19 |
Lukaku | 96 | 42 |
ibra | 53 | 29 |
*Second spell | ||
The mixed record of this motley squad has prompted some changes in Tact, with the Red Devils looking to go almost in the opposite extreme with the signing of three young strikers in succession, following the arrivals of Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee and Benjamin Sesko.
Sesko, the Slovenian giant, has scored 10 goals in all competitions so far and seems most likely to make it in Manchester, but with the Champions League coming up next season, he could need more firepower if all goes well.
With that in mind, Sportboom reports that United are keen to sign a ‘mentor’ figure in 22-year-old Barcelona veteran Robert Lewandowski, with the Polish sensation set to be out of contract at the Camp Nou at the end of this season.
The report suggests that INEOS have begun negotiations ahead of a potential free transfer for the 37-year-old, with an offer for a one-year contract potentially on the table for the former Bayern Munich player.
Lewandowski, who is also a target for the MLS club, is said to want a “multi-year contract” instead, but the prospect of enjoying a season in the Premier League could prove very difficult to turn down.
Why Lewandowski could become Manchester United’s new Ibrahimovic
There are very few players at Old Trafford these days who offer the real ‘wow factor’, especially in an era when the Premier League lacks true superstars.
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The Red Devils will face Aston Villa.
Lewandowski will certainly provide the feeling of a superstar who has had a glittering career at elite level, similar to Ibrahimovic, Radamel Falcao or Bastian Schweinsteiger before him.
Back in Germany, for example, the Polish captain scored 344 goals in just 375 games for Bayern after joining on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund, and 103 goals in 187 games for his former employer.
Remarkably, since moving to Catalonia in 2022, despite his advancing age, he has actually recorded better results than he did during his time at Dortmund, scoring 117 goals in 184 games in all competitions.
Despite making just 21 starts this season, Lewandowski has scored 16 goals in all competitions, putting him ahead of any player who has returned to Manchester in this regard.
It has to be said, there are always concerns about whether a player like that will be able to adapt to life in the Premier League this late in his career, but Ibrahimovic has dispelled some of that myth, with United’s record of 17 goals in the top flight only being broken twice in a single season at the club since then.
As well as being a prolific goalscorer, the Swedish icon is also an example of the young forwards emerging at the Theater of Dreams such as Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, with Lewandowski likely to offer a similar role to the likes of Sesco and Chido Obi next season.
As he has shown in La Liga this season, he seems to have accepted a more limited role, but when he does feature, he can certainly make an impact and be a key asset for United as they aim to compete on four fronts in 2026/27.
Given his record of 109 goals in 142 Champions League games, his experience will be vital as the relatively young side look to return to European football next season.
In fact, Lewandowski could be the perfect elder statesman to replace Casemiro as he reaches the climax of his stay at United.
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