Manchester United have a bolstered striker position when compared to recent years.
After years of limited options, often being players past their best in football such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo, finally Manchester United boast two young strikers.
Rasmus Hojlund will be hoping to build upon his promising – at times – form from last season. Meanwhile, he will be joined by Joshua Zirkzee who looks likely to begin the season as the side’s starting striker due to Hojlund’s injury.
Even outside of this duo, United have exciting prospects like Chido Obi-Martin, Gabriele Biancheri and Ethan Wheatley.
But now Paul Scholes has indicated that this could be a problem area for United this coming season.
Paul Scholes on United’s big problem this season
Speaking on The Overlap fan debate in the build-up to the 2024/25 season, Scholes was hosting in Gary Neville’s place alongside Jamie Carragher.
Scholes was discussing the weaknesses within the United squad when he identified the striker position as a problem area and admitted he does not think that £64m Hojlund is a 25-goal-a-season striker.
“Hojlund, could he score 25 goals for us this season? I’d be amazed. I’d be surprised. When you look at someone like Ivan Toney (linked with a £40m move), could he score 25? I think he could.
“I think he’s really good Carra, but he’s been brought into this country and he was what [20 years of age], and he’s been asked to be the number nine for Man United, it’s an iconic role.
“He should have been a second, third or fourth striker at a big club.”
Continuing, Scholes added that goals are where he expects a big issue to stem from for United – while he’s also unimpressed by Zirkzee.
“I think goals are going to be a problem, I had a look at Zirkzee, and I don’t think he’s a great goalscorer wherever he’s been.”
Scholes’ concerns are misplaced on United’s strikers
While Scholes is concerned over United’s striker options this season, this could be misplaced as Erik ten Hag actually has pretty solid options.
Hojlund bagged 16 goals last season, which for a debut season was not bad at all – and if United improve this season, and Hojlund is given more chances at goal then it would be almost guaranteed to improve considering he had so few chances last season.
On the other hand, Zirkzee is not a lethal scorer at the moment but offers so much more in terms of all-round play which could benefit the players around him.
The Dutchman can score and will score, but his qualities are more as a facilitator and he has even labelled himself as more of a 9.5 than a classic number nine.
We think that if United create chances this season, goals will not be a problem for the Red Devils during 2024/25.
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