With just three days to go until the transfer window officially opens, it's no secret that Manchester United are prioritising signing a striker this summer.
After a successful first season under Erik ten Hag, in which plenty of progress was made, United have ambitions of taking the next step in 2023/24. For that to become a reality the purse strings on Ten Hag's transfer budget need to be loosened.
The Dutchman wants to bolster several departments within his squad, but ongoing uncertainty surrounding the prospect of a takeover means he may not have the funds to get what he wants. It is, though, understood that funds have been set aside for the former Ajax boss to bring in the striker that he desperately craves.
Ten Hag wants to recruit a world-class striker above all else this summer and, as revealed by the Manchester Evening News back in March, has pinpointed Tottenham Hotspur ace Harry Kane as his number one target. The United boss is understood to be "obsessed" with the England captain, but the Reds are operating under the assumption that Spurs will not sell the 29-year-old this summer, despite him entering the final year of his contract.
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Wisely, United have drawn up a list of alternatives and have selected a wide range of strikers who they believe would increase their attacking output, with Victor Osimhen, Rasmus Hojlund, Randal Kolo Muani, Goncalo Ramos and Mohammed Kudus all being monitored. Each member of the aforementioned quintet are quality players who would add a new lease of life to United's pool of attacking options.
However, when it comes to bringing in a striker for big-money it is an investment that United, just like any other club, cannot afford to get wrong. Strikers cost the big bucks and are expected to deliver the goods if they are signed for a hefty-sized transfer fee.
With respect to all of the names on United's shortlist, Napoli ace Osimhen is probably the closest to being at Kane's level, in terms of being described as a world-class operator. Hojlund, who Ten Hag has held discussions with, and Ramos are youngsters with a lot still to learn, whereas Kolo Muani and Kudus, though slightly older, are still yet to hit their respective peaks.
If United fail to land Kane, Osimhen, certainly on paper, would be their next best option. He has just enjoyed an outstanding campaign in Italy, scoring 31 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions, and helped Napoli win their first Serie A title since 1990. With that said, his stock is rising at rapid speed, and therefore so is his value and his reputation.
And so, depending on the size of their budget, United could be forced into taking a closer look at one of the other names on their shortlist. The Reds have been keeping tabs Eintracht Frankfurt ace Kolo Muani, who scored 23 goals and grabbed 17 assists in all competitions this season.
He joined the Bundesliga club on a pre-contract agreement last year before his contract at Nantes expired and was excellent in his debut campaign in Germany, racking up 40 direct goal contributions. Like Osimhen was at Napoli this term, Kolo Muani was Frankfurt's main source of goals, as well as being central to their overall attacking play.
Considering they both made 32 league appearances this season, the metrics can be compared nicely, though it is important to appreciate the differences in the leagues they were playing in. However, Kolo Muani, though he did not score as many goals, outperformed Osimhen in statistics such as dribbles per 90, attacking actions per 90 and assists per 90.
Ten Hag likes his forwards to link the play and be involved in the build-up, hence why he is so intent on signing Kane, who, as well as being a brilliant goalscorer, is also an architect. The Spurs ace has 32 assists in all competitions over the last three seasons.
Like Kane, Kolo Muani is also a creative striker, capable of creating chances and bringing others into play with clever passes and a strong reading of the game. He outperformed Osimhen in every passing parameter during the 2022/23 season.
Averaging 13.32 successful passes per 90, 0.68 successful key passes per 90 and 0.94 successful passes into the final third per 90, the Frenchman is clearly capable of linking the play to a high standard, highlighted by his tally of 17 assists this term. In comparison with Kane, the latter's passing metrics were better than Kolo Muani's, though not by much, and the Frenchman did produce more key passes per 90 this season.
With that in mind, even though Osimhen plundered eight more goals than Kolo Muani in 2022/23, the latter, in direct comparison with Kane, is a similar type of player, who likes to bring others into play and be central to attacks.
Osimhen, by all accounts, might offer a better guarantee of getting the goals that United need, but Kolo Muani could be a cheaper option. He certainly cannot be ignored.
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