Manchester United must sign a new centre forward this summer

After the news broke that Manchester United had finally agreed a deal to sign Mason Mount on a five-year deal from Chelsea, fans were somewhat relieved that their summer business had began.

As soon as Mount signs on the dotted line next week, the Red Devils will be turning their attention to two key areas of the pitch: goalkeeper and centre forward.

Inter Milan’s Andre Onana remains the priority to bring in to replace David de Gea, who has still not signed a new deal and looks increasingly likely to leave as a free transfer this summer.

Erik Ten Hag has made it perfectly clear behind closed doors that he would like an upgrade in his number one position, which he feels has been hindering the way he wants to set up his team now and for the future.

Onana, who’s comfortable on the ball and able to beat the press, will cost in the region of £50 million, but should guarantee Manchester United a goalkeeper of an elite level for the best part of a decade.

As and when that deal is completed, the centre forward position will be the targeted area to reinforce. While Manchester United, in an ideal world, would be going after Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane, it is unlikely that the England international will be allowed to leave at a somewhat reasonable fee this summer. It is said that, although he has only one year left on his current, chairman Daniel Levy will not part ways for less than £100 million.

In the Red Devils’ current predicament in regards to the takeover and teetering on the financial fair play limits, it is unfathomable to think they can pay this amount with spending needed elsewhere.

The club’s attentions have turned to Serie A and, in particular, Rasmus Hojlund at Atalanta. Another young player who Manchester United hope to prize away from the Bergamo region, Hojlund has burst onto the European scene in his debut season in Italy.

The Denmark international found the back of the net 16 times in all competitions from 42 appearances, plus a further seven assists to his name. He is a centre forward that can find the pockets of space in the box to score vital goals, but also able to transition quickly and turn defence into attack with his combination play.

Atalanta are likely to hold out for a fee north of £50 million, especially with Hojlund being tied down to a contract than runs for another four years, but given it has been his first true breakout season, there is an expectation that he cannot be overpriced at this stage.

Manchester United, in a perfect situation, would want to sign Hojlund and a more experience centre forward, like Kane, but with finances being brought in, the possibility of this happening are near to zero.

At 20 years of age, the Danish target man has his whole career ahead of him which is destined at an elite level, which is why the Red Devils want to fend off any competition this summer and sign him now. They do not want to miss out on another promising star as they had done with Erling Haaland.

This potential transfer is likely to run deep into the summer months, but Ten Hag will be pushing from the inside to make sure that come the start of the Premier League season, Manchester United have a new number nine.