Manchester United’s striker search is the worst-kept secret in the upcoming transfer window and a smart purchase flying under the radar could be of Jonathan Burkardt.
Manchester United cannot, under any circumstances, go into next season with just Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee as strikers.
The club clearly knows that too, as evidenced by United’s interest in Osimhen, or their links to Liam Delap.
While those two names have dominated the agenda, the sleeper pick could be the best of the lot, combining the best of both worlds.
Here’s all you need to know about Man Utd striker target Jonathan Burkardt, the Bundesliga hitman who’s a perfect fit for Ruben Amorim.
Who is Jonathan Burkardt?
Jonathan Burkardt is a 24-year-old striker who has spent his entire career with Bundesliga side Mainz, having come through their youth system.
He’s been a part of the senior team for almost five years now and it has been a case of gradual progression leading up to the 2024/25 breakout season.
When and where was Jonathan Burkardt born?
Burkardt was born on July 11, 2000, in Darmstadt and played for the youth teams of SV Darmstadt for five years, between 2009 and 2014 before being poached by Mainz’s system.
From there on, he has stayed with Mainz, making appearances for their U17 side all the way up to the senior team.
Jonathan Burkardt national team
Burkardt is eligible to play for the German national team and his breakout this season has already seen him get capped by the senior team under Julian Nagelsmann.
He made his senior debut in October 2024 and has made three appearances at the time of writing, still waiting for his first goal.
He’s played for Germany’s youth sides starting from the U15s, with his longest stint of 20 games for the U21 side returning 10 goals.
Jonathan Burkardt position
Burkardt is now an out-and-out striker but has played on the right as well as a second striker in a pair up top.
His days of playing as a winger at times have honed his technical skills which, combined with his finishing, makes him a lethal all-around threat near the box.
After his breakout, he’s unlikely to return playing out wide now which is for the best because he is a guarantee of goals down the middle, rivalling Harry Kane in the Bundesliga goalscoring charts.
Jonathan Burkardt style of play
Burkardt is a bit of a throwback when it comes to his style of play as he likes the ball to be played to his feet, where he can hold off his defender and get the game moving forward.
However, he’s not the best in the air so the ball needs to be kept on the ground to make the best use of his gifts. His sense of movement and anticipation makes him a fox in the box where he scores all kinds of scrappy goals.
Runners on either side have a great time playing with him because he likes to play searching balls out wide after holding it up, something that will come as music to Ruben Amorim’s ears.
The best thing about Burkardt is that Mainz play in a 3-4-3 system like United, with the German playing at the tip of that formation, just like he would at United.
That will reduce the acclimatising period for him at Old Trafford, something that can’t be said for either Delap or Osimhen.
Jonathan Burkardt height
Burkardt stands at just over 6 ft tall, not extremely physical by footballing standards but enough to unsettle defenders because he uses his physicality well.
He’s not a big aerial threat but his low center of gravity helps him hold off defenders and his deceptive strength often catches opponents off-guard.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
