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Man Utd are likely to go into the market for a striker if Joshua Zirkzee is sold before the transfer window closes, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

United’s move for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba came out of the blue, but speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said that there could be “one more surprise” in store for fans, with a new addition up front now firmly on the agenda:

“If Zirkzee goes, for Man Utd that would mean one more striker, so one more player up front if Zirkzee goes. We have to see what’s going to happen. For Zirkzee, every single window there is movement, and then he ends up staying. Let’s see what’s going to be the case in this story in this transfer window for the Dutch striker…”

“Eventually, for Man Utd it would be one more surprise, as the striker position was not something Man Utd were prioritising in this window. Now the focus was more on left-back and a central midfielder, but if Zirkzee goes, striker could be a surprise position to follow.”

Who could buy Zirkzee?

Napoli and Juventus are said to be the two teams who have shown the most interest in the Netherlands international this summer.

Zirkzee impressed during his last spell in Italy with Bologna, and it seems likely that he would return to Serie A if he does leave Old Trafford in the last two weeks of the transfer window.

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Which strikers are Man Utd targeting?

For now, there isn’t a leading contender, but the Red Devils have been keeping tabs on several forwards, including Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney, Freiburg’s Igor Matanovic and Brentford’s Igor Thiago.

However, probably the most intriguing link has emerged over the past few days, with reports claiming that an enquiry has been made for Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen.

It is not known how much truth there is to that rumour, though. The Nigerian international’s wage demands would probably be the main obstacle in the way of that deal happening.

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