Manchester United are in the market for another striker, and the World Cup is leaving no doubts as to who it should be.
His first season was enough for Benjamin Sesko to prove that he has enough to be a long-term solution for Man Utd at the striker position.
However, with United playing in four competitions next season, they need more bodies up front; hence their exploration for striker options.
The idea is to get a player happy to play backup to Sesko, but without a huge downgrade in quality, which is exactly what one player can be.
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Ayase Ueda’s star turn at the World Cup
At just 27, Ayase Ueda is not the typical “experienced striker” Man Utd have been looking for, but he’s the best of both worlds.
Ueda is taking the World Cup by storm, recently scoring twice and assisting one goal in Japan’s 4-0 win against Hannibal’s Tunisia.
For anyone wondering if this is just another case of a player getting hyped up due to a game or two at the World Cup, this story is different.
Ueda has just picked up from where he left off for his club, as he was a prolific goalscorer for Feyenoord in the 2025/26 season.
The Japanese striker scored a remarkable 25 goals in just 31 games, finishing atop the scoring charts despite his team coming a distant second in the league.
He is a pure goalscorer who is a killer in the box. If a team creates chances for him, he guarantees goals. At the World Cup, he is showing more rounded skills, but he has already perfected the art of scoring.
Man Utd must explore Ueda move
Ueda isn’t an experienced striker at the tail-end of his career, and he’s somewhat of a gamble since Dutch league numbers don’t always translate.
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Who would benefit Sesko the most…
Having said that, United can do a lot worse than explore the conditions of a move for the striker.
His contract expires in 2028, so Feyenoord will want to cash in on him after a great season is followed by a breakout World Cup.
He wouldn’t demand to start for the club every game, but he has enough in him to partner with Sesko in a season where United play in four competitions.
The transfer fee and salary demands will be palatable too, coming from the Dutch League, and a team not named Ajax.
To borrow a page from the Glazers’ playbook, a Japanese star playing for Man Utd will also open up a huge marketing opportunity, and not at the cost of sporting success this time.
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