It’s been well-documented that Manchester United will be in the market for at least one new forward this summer as they prepare for a major squad overhaul following Erik ten Hag’s arrival.
Although funds will be made available for the Dutchman, the Reds will have to be shrewd where possible given the number of improvements they need across various areas of the current squad.
One way they could do this is by taking advantage of players becoming available for cut-price fees following relegation at their respective clubs. Especially given the quality of players that look set to become obtainable from such clubs this summer. With this in mind, Mirror Football has highlighted three exciting forwards that United could land for cheap this summer.
Raphinha - Leeds - RW
Raphinha has proven to be one of the Premier League ’s most dangerous attackers since joining Leeds in the summer of 2020. The former Rennes man netted six goals while registering a further nine assists in his debut season, which is an impressive feat for a player new to the league.
He’s surpassed that goal tally this season though, scoring ten times which is particularly impressive given Leeds’ struggles for much of the campaign.
The Brazil international most often lines up on the right of his side’s attack, despite being left-footed. But this actually plays into his strengths. He’s an elite dribbler who has averaged over six dribbles per 90 this season - that’s more than any United attacker - therefore you’ll most often see him driving at and past opposition defenders before cutting onto his favoured foot to unleash shots at goal.
Leeds need a small miracle to avoid the drop this weekend, and if the same doesn’t happen, then Raphinha has the potential to be a bargain recruit.
Sékou Mara - Bordeaux - FW
Bordeaux have endured a torrid campaign this season. They were crowned champions of France as recently as 2008/09, but will now head into the final round of league action this weekend three points from safety and needing to overturn a deficit of 12 in terms of goal difference.
Mara has at least been one of their few bright sparks this season, the exciting 19-year-old has scored four goals in less than 1000 minutes of Ligue 1 action. As a profile, he’s quick, skilful and has a keen eye for goal. He can play different roles across an attack, but it’s through the middle as a striker that he’s looked at his most dangerous.
The teenager is still raw, and further development is required, but there’s a reason why Bordeaux were keen to tie the France U20 international down on a contract until 2025. It’ll be a huge blow for them when they inevitably lose him following relegation, and Old Trafford could well be his next destination.
Sasa Kalajdzic - Stuttgart - FW
Kalajdzic signed for Stuttgart in the summer of 2020 when they were still in Bundesliga II. He made just six league appearances that season with a Cruciate Ligament Rupture sidelining him for most of the campaign. Despite this, his side still managed to secure promotion that season and Kalajdsic returned ready for his debut campaign in Germany’s top tier.
The Austrian adjusted to life in the Bundesliga seamlessly, registering an impressive 21 Bundesliga goal contributions in 33 appearances. A freak shoulder injury halted his progression this season as he missed four months of the campaign, however he returned at the beginning of the year and is very much looking back to his best with six goals in his last 11 appearances.
In terms of a profile, what stands out about Kalajdzic is his size. At 6ft7 he boasts being the tallest player in the Bundesliga. Unsurprisingly this makes him a dominating presence in the air, and his aerial duel success rate of 57.48 per cent as per Wyscout ranks as the second-highest of all Bundesliga strikers who have played 1000 minutes this season.
As things stand Stuttgart are out of the Bundesliga’s bottom three on goal difference alone. Defeat this weekend could see them sucked in if results elsewhere go against them, and if they do go down, there’ll be many clubs looking at Kalajdzic.
