It is no secret that Manchester United want to sign a new striker next summer, but their two main targets will cost a pretty penny to supply them with (almost) guaranteed goals.
United are closer than they have been for quite some time to mounting a genuine Premier League title charge, while they cannot be discounted from the race this season. However, with Arsenal and Manchester City ahead, the bronze medal appears most likely reward for Erik ten Hag during his first campaign in the dugout.
But the Dutchman is perhaps only one marquee signing away from helping United become English champions, once again, or at the very least being tipped as favourites to reclaim their crown. Bringing in Victor Osimhen or prolific England captain Harry Kane would certainly do wonders for their pre-season odds.
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With the world at his feet, Osimhen fits the Ten Hag masterplan to a tee. His goals this term have spearheaded Napoli in their bid to win the Scudetto for the first time since 1990 and the first without iconic Argentine Diego Maradona. Not bad company at all for Osimhen to rank himself alongside.
His credentials as a long-term successor Cristiano Ronaldo must not be sniffed at – even for those who are not avid Serie A viewers – but 19 goals from 23 appearances this season are plenty to bolster his CV, while Osimhen matches the profile Ten Hag craves for his rebuild. Only he will cost £100million plus.
Kane, meanwhile, needs no such introduction. However, there is a grey area over his would-be transfer fee and doubts over whether or not Tottenham would even do business.
Despite one or two question marks, both players come with infinitely more pros than cons, but that might not even be the determining factor. What happens if the clubs, or players, rebuff United next summer?
That is a proposition fresh in the memory for Ten Hag and United supporters following their – at times – garishly public chase for Frenkie de Jong last summer. Long story short, he opted to stay with Barcelona and United had to go elsewhere in their quest to address long-standing problems in central midfield.
By hook or by crook, they settled on Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. Now that turned out pretty well.
