Potential striker options for Manchester United and the prospects of getting a deal over the line in coming transfer windows

After passing the chance to sign Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United must surely have plans of bringing in a No.9 in the coming windows, be it now in the winter or later in the summer.

We take a look at a number of No.9 profiles the club could possibly move for and the degree of the feasibility to get the potential deal over the line.

1. Dusan Vlahovic

The Juventus striker only moved to Turin from Fiorentina about a year ago and it's not been all plain sailing. No one could have had the Serbian on this list but due to the crisis at the club, Juventus night be in the end be forced to let go of some key players.

Vlahovic, who has a contract until the summer of 2026 in Turin has struggled to fit into the system of Massimiliano Allegri but still manage to get decent numbers in front of goal.

There's no questioning his prowess in front of goal and in him and should Manchester United be able to complete a move for the 22year old, they could have their own Erling Haaland who is even better with the ball at his feet.

While Juventus still continues to pay part of the transfer fee to Fiorentina, luring Vlahovic away won't be easy and Erik Ten Hag's side better be prepare to spend big. However, spending big hasn't been problem for the Glazers and Vlahovic will be good value for money.

2. Ivan Toney

Ivan Toney is another option Manchester United can consider. A consistent Goalscorer and Premier League proven. At 26, the Brentford striker has the potential to become the club's new Andry Cole.

Strong, imposing and a real handful for opposing defenders despite being only 5 feet and 10 inches. He is very good aerially and a very intelligent striker but his discipline record is not too impressive and could become a reason that sway United's attention from him.

Toney averages 1.7 fouls per game in the league this season and has already been cautioned six times, two away from matching his yellow card total from last season whilst he has already missed a game due to accumulation of yellow cards.

His charge for counts of alleged betting breaches, who reportedly started in February 2017 can also be another discouraging fact but in the field, there is no stopping Toney.

Since their return to the topflight at the start of last season, Ivan Toney has scored 23 Premier League goals for Brentford, more than double any other player at the club.

He has also scored eleven League goals this season after just 15 appearances, which means he is just a goal away from equaling his total in the competition last season. Ivan Toney will without a doubt thrive at Man United.

3. Victor Osimhen

The Nigerian is under contract with Napoli until the summer of 2025 and is an integral part of their set-up, which means the chances of him leaving the club in the summer is very feeble.

Osimhen has scored 18 goals from open play in the Serie A in 2022, no player has more despite suffering multiple injuries and missing more than a couple of games.

The striker has almost every quality demanded in a traditional striker and for that he has been linked with a move to Old Trafford for some time now and has recently become more enticing prospect to fans demanding a striker at the club.

At 23, Osimhen is leading Napoli's quest for their first Scudetto since the days of one late Diego Armando Maradona in 1987 and with the aid of himself, Luciano Spalletti and other players, Gli Azzurri have been able to establish an eight point gap lead at the top of the league standing after 15 games.

Napoli made Osimhen the second most expensive African player of all-time when he signed from Lille in the summer of 2020 in a €70 million deal and bar the moment he has been sidelined due to injuries, he has been good value for money.

Luring him away won't be easy and will cost ridiculous amount, moreso that he has become one of the best around and Napoli are in a position to deny a move.

4. Aleksandar Mitrovic

Might sound ridiculous but in a world where there seems to be scarcity of No.9s, one that has scored 53 league goals since the start of last season for Fulham won't be too bad an option to consider even though he is 28.

Mitrovic has been a thorn since return to the Premier League after enduring a season to forget the last time he was in the topflight when he scored just three times in 27 appearances but 3 starts and Fulham were sent back to the Championship.

This season, he is man on a mission and is spearheading Fulham’s remarkable run in the league. Thanks to his goals and contributions, they currently place ninth on the log after 16 games.

Mitrovic is only the fourth player to reach double figures for goals in the Premier League this season and the Serbian has been responsible for 40.7 per cent of Fulham's 27 league goals albeit he has missed three of their games.

He could become an even better version of himself under Ten Hag and will come comparably cheap to other options the club can get out there.

5. Jonathan David

At 22, the Canadian is making a quite impressive impression of himself in the Ligue 1 with Lille since joining from Belgian side Gent in the summer of 2020.

Jonathan David has reached double figures for league goals since turning professional, including playoffs where required and this season, he also has nine after 15 games in the Ligue 1, on course to set a new height for himself if he continues till season's end.

At that time, it would have been clear how consistent the striker will be if United decides to move for him and with his quality, he will surely bring more to the wire side while also increasing his own output in front of goal.

David is another option United could move for as Erik Ten Hag seeks some icing on the exciting project he is developing at Old Trafford.

Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi