Sports
INEOS signed a “homegrown Osimhen” who can end Zirkzee’s Man Utd career
Not that it wasn’t before the short-lived return of Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United, but the centre-forward berth has been an even bigger problem in the years since.
Indeed, the 2022/23 season saw Anthony Martial score just nine times in all competitions, including just six in the Premier League, while January arrival Wout Weghorst netted just twice following his surprise switch from Burnley.
The following campaign saw an injury-hit Martial score just twice himself in all competitions, while new man Rasmus Hojlund did fire 16 times, albeit with just ten of those coming in the league.
Hojlund then followed that up with ten goals across all fronts last term, with just four of those coming in the top-flight. £36.5m arrival Joshua Zirkzee, meanwhile, netted seven times, of which only three were in the league.
The fact of the matter is, United simply don’t have a proven goalscorer to rely upon, with the recent defeat to Everton highlighting why that man Zirkzee – who hasn’t scored a league goal for almost a year – just isn’t the solution.
The latest on Joshua Zirkzee’s future
In the absence of Benjamin Sesko – who himself has scored only twice following his £74m switch from RB Leipzig – it was Zirkzee who got the nod against the Toffees, having featured for just 90 minutes in total all season prior to that.
Rusty or not on his first start of 2025/26, the Dutchman looked painfully out of his depth at times, so at odds with the rampant speed and physicality of Premier League football.
There were moments of quality, including two well-guided headers and an inviting cross across the box, but the 24-year-old was largely ineffective up against the wily James Tarkowski, notably losing the ball 12 times from just 35 touches.
Provided a rare opportunity to flourish, the former Bologna man showcased just why he has been a bystander to proceedings for much of the campaign so far, further throwing into doubt his long-term future at Old Trafford.
Indeed, the latest reports have suggested that the 6 foot 4 enigma might have already said yes to joining AS Roma on an initial loan deal in January, having previously been named Serie A’s Young Player of the Year back in 2023/24.
While United’s options in attack will be limited even further by Amad and Bryan Mbeumo’s upcoming AFCON commitments, it would not be a surprise for Zirkzee to depart upon their return in the New Year, with seven goals in 55 total games for the club making for grim reading for any centre-forward.
There is a talent in there, with his fleet of foot and silky touch sparking comparisons to a figure like Dimitar Berbatov, although in United’s current period of flux under Ruben Amorim, they desperately need an out-and-out goalscorer.
Thankfully, INEOS have already signed one.
Man Utd’s “homegrown Osimhen” can replace Zirkzee
With Sesko and Matheus Cunha both sidelined, it was stark how little attacking depth United had in reserve, with Mason Mount the only real senior forward for Amorim to turn to on the bench.
|
Man Utd Scorers – 25/26 |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Record |
|
Bryan Mbeumo |
6 |
|
Casemiro |
3 |
|
Bruno Fernandes |
2 |
|
Benjamin Sesko |
2 |
|
Harry Maguire |
1 |
|
Matthijs de Ligt |
1 |
|
Mason Mount |
1 |
|
Amad |
1 |
|
Matheus Cunha |
1 |
While 18-year-old starlet Shea Lacey was featured in the matchday squad, there were eyebrows raised at the decision to overlook his academy colleague, Chido Obi, with Zirkzee ultimately playing the full 90 minutes.
Obi was parachuted into the first-team set-up as a drastic measure last season, amid United’s injury crisis, having made eight senior appearances in total 2024/25, albeit without scoring.
Frustratingly for the 17-year-old – who did score on the post-season tour against Hong Kong – he hasn’t been seen since in the senior set-up, with Amorim suggesting that he had been promoted “too soon” last term.
“He [Chido] played last year, but I think it was too soon,” said Amorim last week. “We didn’t have a team we could put a young kid of 16 into and him not struggle.
“He’s one of the guys but he started too soon. Sometimes it’s hard to deal with that, with the kids, because they think that ‘I’m already here’. We need to be careful with that.”
There’s no denying that Obi did look raw, not least on his solitary start against Brentford, but he also showed flashes of his undeniable talent, having come close to converting from the angle in the FA Cup clash with Fulham at Old Trafford.
Signed from Arsenal in the summer for 2024, the free-scoring forward has ripped it up at youth level in recent times, scoring 32 times in just 21 U18 games for the Gunners, as per Transfermarkt, while following that up with 12 goals in ten U18 games for United.
With five goals in 13 this term in the age group above, Obi is again showing just why he deserves a second chance under Amorim, with the teenager representing the orthodox centre-forward option that Zirkzee simply isn’t.
Described as a “homegrown Osimhen” by Arsenal content creator Will Balsam, the Danish youth international might be the perfect understudy to Sesko, rather than Zirkzee, with Amorim’s set-up demanding a more mobile, dynamic option to run the channels.
Of course, Amorim is wise to be careful with the development of such a talent, but at a time when a string of centre-forward signings haven’t worked out, why not dip into Carrington again?
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