Manchester United have brought in a new striker this summer with the Anthony Martial era now over.
Erik ten Hag went into this transfer window knowing that he had to bolster his Manchester United squad in multiple areas.
A striker was an absolute must, just a year since splashing the cash on Rasmus Hojlund.
The Dane showed some promising signs last season but lacked cover and competition in the United attack.
United have therefore decided to snap up Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna – and that decision has already been justified.
Hojlund is now injured and is set to miss the start of the Premier League season, meaning Zirkzee may be called upon very quickly.
Anthony Martial transfer latest
United simply had to invest in somebody to replace Anthony Martial.
The Frenchman last featured for United in a home defeat to Bournemouth back in December.
Injuries – as they so often have – plagued Martial in the second half of the season.
Martial was let go as his contract expired, handing him a low-key exit which few would have predicted after his stunning debut goal against Liverpool in 2015.
Martial has received interest from Como but may end up joining one of their rivals in Italy.
Sky Sports claim that Atalanta have shown an interest in signing Martial on a free transfer.
The Europa League winners sold Hojlund to United last summer and replaced him with Giannis Scamacca.
The Italian striker has now gone down with a major injury and Martial is on the radar as a replacement.
Ligue 1 side Lille are also keen as Martial looks to find himself a club before the new season starts.
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Atalanta keen on Martial amid Ademola Lookman rumours
Martial isn’t exactly a like-for-like replacement for Scamacca in terms of his physical profile.
The Frenchman would be another attacking option though amid rumours surrounding Ademola Lookman.
Bayer Leverkusen were destroyed by Lookman as he scored a stunning hat-trick in the Europa League final.
Reports in June suggested that United were interested in signing Lookman in a deal worth up to £51million.
That move hasn’t advanced just yet but Martial may be seen as a player who can not only cover for Scamacca and possibly even Lookman too, should he move on.
We can’t see United moving for Lookman this summer having brought in Zirkzee, but he may remain a name on the radar heading towards 2025 having impressed in Bergamo.
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