The centre-forward slot has become an even bigger problem since, although not before Cristiano Ronaldo’s short-lived return to Manchester United.
In fact, in 2022/23, Anthony Martial scored just nine goals in all competitions, including just six in the Premier League, while Wout Weghorst, who arrived from Burnley in January, scored just two goals.
In the following season, an injury-hit Martial only scored twice in all competitions, while new signing Rasmus Heilund had 16 shots on goal, only 10 of which came in the league.
Hoylund scored 10 goals across all fronts last season, with just four of those coming in the top flight. Meanwhile, £36.5 million signing Joshua Zirkzee has scored seven goals, but only three of those came in league games.
The truth is that United lack a reliable and proven goalscorer. The recent defeat against Everton highlighted why Zirksee, the man who hasn’t scored in the league for almost a year, is not the answer.
Latest information on Joshua Zirkzee’s future
In the absence of Benjamin Sesco (who himself scored just two goals following his £74m move from RB Leipzig), Zirksee, who had previously played just 90 minutes all season, was allowed to feature against the Toffees.
Rusty or not, the Dutchman looked woefully out of his depth at times in his first start of the 2025/26 season, at odds with the sheer pace and physicality of Premier League football.
There were moments of quality, including two well-directed headers and an inviting cross across the box, but the 24-year-old was largely powerless against the crafty James Tarkowski, notably losing the ball 12 times in just 35 touches.
Given a rare opportunity to shine, the former Bologna player revealed why he has been on the sidelines for much of the campaign so far, raising further questions about his long-term future at Old Trafford.
In fact, the latest reports suggest that the 6ft 4 mystery player, who has been named Serie A’s Young Player of the Year for the 2023/24 season, may have already said yes to joining AS Roma in his first loan deal in January.
Amad and Brian Mbeumo’s upcoming participation in AFCON will further limit United’s attacking options, but it would not be surprising to see Zirkzee leave after returning in the new year, having scored seven goals in 55 games for the club, making things tough for any centre-forward.
The talent is there, his nimble feet and fluid touch prompting comparisons to the likes of Dimitar Berbatov, but at United’s current period of flux under manager Ruben Amorim, they are in dire need of an absolute goalscorer.
Thankfully, INEOS already has a deal in place.
Could Manchester United’s ‘grown-up Osimhen’ replace Zirksee?
With Sesco and Matheus Cunha sidelined, it was clear how little United’s attacking depth was, with Amorim having Mason Mount, the only real senior forward, to rely on on the bench.
Manchester United goalscorers – 25/26 | |
|---|---|
player | record |
Brian Mbeumo | 6 |
Casemiro | 3 |
Bruno Fernandes | 2 |
Benjamin Sesco | 2 |
harry maguire | 1 |
Matthijs de Ligt | 1 |
mason mount | 1 |
Amado | 1 |
Matheus Cunha | 1 |
Statistics via Transfermarkt | |
Star 18-year-old Shea Lacey was named in the match-day squad, but the decision to ignore academy colleague Chido Obi and ultimately let Zirkzee play the full 90 minutes raised some eyebrows.
Obi was parachuted into the first-team set-up in a drastic move during United’s injury crisis last season, and made a total of eight appearances for the first-team in 2024/25, albeit without a goal.
Frustratingly for the 17-year-old, who scored in the post-season tour against Hong Kong, he has not featured for the first team since and Amorim suggested last season’s promotion may have come “too soon”.
“He (Chido) played last year too, but I think it was too early,” Amorim said last week. “We didn’t have a team that could put a young 16-year-old kid in there without giving him a hard time.
“He’s one of the better players, but he started too early. Sometimes it’s hard for kids to deal with that because they think, ‘I’m already here.’ We have to be careful about that.”
There’s no denying that Obi looked raw, especially in his lone start against Brentford, but he also showed glimpses of his undeniable talent as he nearly scored from an angle in the FA Cup match against Fulham at Old Trafford.
The free-scoring forward, signed from Arsenal in the summer of 2024, has been very active at youth level recently, scoring 32 goals in just 21 Under-18 games for the Gunners and 12 goals in 10 Under-18 games for United, according to Transfermarkt.
With five goals in 13 games in the above age group this season, Obi has once again shown why he deserves a second chance under Amorim, and the teenager is a legitimate centre-forward option that doesn’t suit Zirksee.
The Danish youth international, described by Arsenal content creator Will Balsam as “homegrown Osimhen”, could be the perfect replacement for Sesco rather than Zirkzee. Amorim’s structure calls for more agile and dynamic options for running channels.
Of course, Amorim would be wise to be cautious about developing such talent, but at a time when centre-forward signings have been unsuccessful, why not dip into Carrington again?
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