Bruno Petkovic to Man Utd, who is the striker Erik ten Hag has considered signing in surprise move

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Manchester United’s lack of goals in the Premier League this season highlight a familiar problem under Erik ten Hag.

Manchester United have scored only five goals in six Premier League games this season. And when you consider that three came in the same match, that’s reason to be concerned.

Joshua Zirkzee has failed to net since the opening game of the season, while Rasmus Hojlund has not shown anything since his return from injury.

Manchester United did explore further additions at the position, with the club linked to striker Bruno Petkovic.

Who is Bruno Petkovic

Manchester United considered a move for Dinamo Zagreb striker Bruno Petkovic to strengthen the club’s forward options.

According to Give Me Sport, Manchester United had explored the possibility of signing 30-year-old forward Bruno Petkovic during the transfer window.

Petkovic scored 18 goals in all competitions for Dinamo Zagreb in 2023/24. And he has begun this season in prolific form, scoring 10 times already.

The striker began his career with Italian side Catania, going onto sign with Bologna, before returning to Croatia to sign with Dinamo Zagreb in 2019.

Petkovic has scored 86 goals in 243 games for Zagreb in total, and has been capped by Croatia 41 times, netting 11 goals.

His international strikes include goals against Brazil at the World Cup in 2022, Netherlands and Portugal.

Petkovic has captained his side this season, including in Zagreb’s disappointing 9-2 defeat to Bayern Munich, where he was on the scoresheet.

This past weekend he scored a free-kick in their 2-0 win over Lokomotiva Zagreb.

• READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25

Petkovic would have been exception

Manchester United have put faith in young strikers Rasmus Hojlund, 21, and Joshua Zirkzee, 23.

The oldest player Ineos signed in the summer was Moroccan defender Noussair Mazraoui, who is 26.

Petkovic would have been an exception if a move was made to sign him at 30, yet he would have offered a very different option.

He is a physical striker and Hojlund in-particular could do with having an older forward he can learn from.

Erik ten Hag clearly values experience, still relying on Christian Eriksen, selected to start four of the past five games.

United did not pull the trigger to sign Petkovic in the summer, but his impressive early season form could keep the club’s attention.

It makes more sense to sign a player like Petkovic as an additional attacker, a stop-gap, than one who would compete long-term with Hojlund, while there is also promising youngster Chido Obi-Martin, who will eventually ascend up the pecking order.