Manchester United and a new striker. It's the soap opera storyline that has kept on giving.
Not since the days of Wayne Rooney have United had a consistent leading man up front. In the decade since there have been expensive failures, ageing stop gaps and very little in between. And, with the 2023-24 season a little over a month away, United remain light in attack but heavy on unanswered questions.
The Reds need to find a striker solution if they have any hope of closing the gap domestically and eating into it on the continent.
If the season started tomorrow, Erik ten Hag would be choosing between Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford through the middle. The latter is better utilised off the flank - and showed it in spades last term - while Martial's injury record means he is a mix of unreliable and unfortunate. Indeed he could be sold this summer should an offer materialse.
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When you cast an eye across the goalscoring options available elsewhere in the top six, it's a clear weakness for United. And, with a £60million deal for Mason Mount all but done, the chances of the Reds moving for a striker of the calibre of Harry Kane at Tottenham or Victor Osimhen at Napoli seem to be receding quickly. United simply don't have the money to be spending £100million-plus.
It means Ten Hag is shopping in the next bracket, forgoing elite-level experience and goals for the more affordable. Someone still capable of hitting the net regularly but without the guarantee world-class options offer.
Among others, it's led the Reds to Rasmus Hojlund at Atalanta, a self-confessed United supporter and at just 20 a player who has the scope to develop and improve significantly. A deal seems there to be done and a price tag of around £35-40million could suit Ten Hag given the other gaps in the squad.
The United chief has held multiple video calls with Hojlund, who only moved to Italy a year ago from Austrian club Sturm Graz. He scored 10 times last term and provided four assists, while he has the pace to stretch defenders and the eye for goal to finish chances. His defensive work requires improvement while he won't offer the full hold-up package United seek.
But in the current Old Trafford climate, Hojlund is a move worth pursuing. And if United can add a second centre forward alongside the Dane then suddenly the attacking options look serious instead of sparse.
The Reds were linked over the weekend for Mehdi Taremi at Porto, a player with an enviable goal record who has the profile to play centrally and can both link and score. He impressed against England in the World Cup for Iran and could be available for around £17million given he is in the final year of his contract.
At 30 he is not a long-term solution but it's hard not to see him as an upgrade on Wout Weghorst and his price tag makes him an attractive option for United. Grabbing two strikers for the cost of Mount would represent some pretty solid business, particularly given Rashford's numbers last season.
And in a year's time, if United have built on a solid first campaign under Ten Hag they can dip their toe in the £100million market once again. For now though, they must sign smartly and two heads can prove better than one.
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