Mark Goldbridge: Who Should Lead the Line for Man United
Manchester United Transfers: Striker Search Becomes Tug of War
Manchester United's transfer window drama continues, with manager targets, agents, and rival clubs creating a chaotic marketplace. On the latest episode of The United Stand, Mark Goldbridge laid out the current striker landscape, comparing stats and questioning both value and fit for several high-profile names.
Osimhen Deal 'Not Viable' as Agent Games Take Over
Goldbridge opened with strong words on Victor Osimhen, stating, 'Osimhen will not come to Manchester United.' He pointed out the growing influence of Al Hilal, who 'still believe that a deal can be done' after missing out during the Club World Cup.
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More importantly, Osimhen's financial demands appear unrealistic. Goldbridge suggested, 'His agent is probably going around Europe saying we could have earned this money in Saudi, so we want ridiculous money here.' Adding to the doubt, he noted that 'Man United and AC Milan are not seen as front runners,' since Osimhen's priority is Champions League football.
In Goldbridge's view, the striker market cannot be allowed to drag on. 'I think we've got to be a little bit more robust… I don't know that it's a player we can afford to waste time on.'
Hugo Ekitike: 'Plan C' at a Steep Price
Manchester United have made 'concrete' contact over Hugo Ekitike, but concerns are mounting over both price and profile. 'It's a hundred million euros,' Goldbridge said bluntly. 'That's not right… this is the Bundesliga. Since when were players from Frankfurt going for a hundred million euros?'
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Despite Ekitike's creativity, Goldbridge stressed the lack of goals. 'He's not a goal scorer… literally isn't a goal scorer.' With just a 15% goal conversion rate and 0.51 goals per 90, Goldbridge raised doubts over paying a premium. 'If you drop him into a Manchester United shirt… pressure, foreign, media, rivals – it's a lot.'
Reflex, a viewer, did offer a more optimistic take: 'I watched Ekitike, I think he could be a top striker.' But even Goldbridge admitted, 'As a Plan C option, I'm not going to sit here and say that's bad.'
Gyokeres Remains a Waiting Game
With Arsenal prioritising Sesko, United's interest in Viktor Gyökeres is far from over. Goldbridge explained the situation as 'basically where we were three weeks ago,' after confusion caused by reports of Arsenal bids that never materialised. 'United remain cautious and are monitoring the situation,' he read from Fabrizio Romano's latest update.
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Mark didn't shy away from the realities of the race. 'If Arsenal want Gyökeres, they probably win the race. But if they don't, then we've got a great chance again.'
Fan Frustration Peaks Over Striker Targets
Beyond stats, fans and contributors voiced concerns. Mike JW posted, 'Ekitike is vastly overpriced, he's also not good enough.' JJ added, 'We need someone who's ready – Ekitike isn't.' Meanwhile, Ke summed it up: 'Would we not be better keeping the hundred million euros and just playing Zirkzee up front?'
Goldbridge compared the two directly: 'I don't actually see a world of difference… in outputs.' With Zirkzee matching Ekitike's 15% goal conversion rate and bettering him on some metrics, Goldbridge pressed the case: 'Why would you not just play Zirkzee up front instead of spending 100 million pounds on Ekitike?'
Concluding Thoughts
Manchester United's striker hunt is shaping up to be the defining saga of the summer. Whether they pivot to Gyökeres, revisit Osimhen, or risk it all on Ekitike, the next move must be decisive.
Goldbridge put it best: 'We need a goal scorer… it's not about how shiny the toy is, it's what the toy does.'
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