Man United signed Joshua Zirkzee instead of £15m gem who is now dominating the Champions League

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Manchester United may look back regrettably on a striker deal they failed to get over the line last summer.

Following Anthony Martial’s departure from Manchester United as a free agent, a striker became a top priority for the Red Devils last summer.

United ended up spending £36m to sign Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna, with the Dutchman the first of five major signings made in that window.

Zirkzee has scored five goals for United in a very turbulent debut season, which has included being embarrassingly hooked off against Newcastle before becoming a penalty hero against Arsenal in the FA Cup.

But United’s striker problem is still far from over with Ruben Amorim experimenting with Kobbie Mainoo up front in his latest attempt to score more goals.

Frustratingly, Martial has been in superb form since leaving and one of United’s other striker targets from last summer has been tearing it up in Europe.

Man United came close to signing Serhou Guirassy

In 2023/24, Serhou Guirassy burst onto the scene with a staggering 30 goals in 30 appearances for VfB Stuttgart.

United were linked with Guirassy as early as March, when the Guinea international simply could not stop scoring.

Remarkably, Guirassy was available for just £15m thanks to a release clause in his Stuttgart deal, but United still had their sights set on Zirkzee as their top striker target.

Guirassy was viewed as an ideal replacement for Martial, but his lack of experience at a top European club went against him.

In the summer, Guirassy ended up staying in Germany and joining Borussia Dortmund in a £15m move. He has been an instant hit at his new club.

Serhou Guirassy is dominating the Champions League this season

Since arriving at Dortmund, Guirassy was immediately made the first-choice striker.

He has scored 18 goals in 27 appearances this season, including nine in eight games in the Champions League. Guirassy’s nine goals in Europe makes him the Champions League top scorer, tied with Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski.

Incredibly, Guirassy has scored nine goals in the Champions League despite only playing 565 minutes in the competition.

He will want to add to that tally when Dortmund face Ruben Amorim’s former side Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday evening.

United scouts will watch Geovany Quenda in action for Sporting, but they will also get a glance at Guirassy after missing out on him in the summer.