Forget Zlatan And Rooney – It Is Time Mourinho Looks To Sign Any Of These 3 Big Money Strikers For United

Manchester United Should Sign One Of These 3 Big Money Players To Set Things Right Next Season

The story of the season could have been so different for Manchester United. In Jose Mourinho’s first season in charge at the Old Trafford, the Red Devils finished their Premier League campaign in a lowly 6th position. But it all could have been so much better, had they managed to convert the innumerable number of chances that went begging, had they been more clinical in front of goal.

United went on a record-breaking 25-game unbeaten run in the league. But what hurt them was, most of these unbeaten games ended in draws. The 20-time league winners’ extreme profligacy in front of goal hurt them very badly and was the main difference between a top four finish and the 6th place where they eventually ended up.

The Red Devils’ primary source of goals was Swedish talisman, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The 34-year old, in his debut season in England, managed to find the back of the net 28 times across all competitions. But apart from him, the rest of the attackers struggled to contribute meaningfully. Marcus Rashford may have found his form recently, but it all came a bit too late for United in the league.

While the season can still be considered a success as they have managed to add the UEFA Europa League trophy to the FA Community Shield and EFL Cup silverwares that they already collected, it wouldn’t take a genius to understand that they need to bring in a star striker in the summer who can be the difference maker come next season.

Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid has been linked heavily with a move to the Old Trafford for quite some time now. But the astronomical fee of £100million that the Rojiblancos are demanding for the Frenchman seems a little outlandish, especially so considering his recent displays in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals against Real Madrid. The fact that Ibra has scored more than Griezmann (26 from 53 games) this season, despite having featured less should be warning enough for United to think twice before spending so much on the French international.

Here are three big name strikers other than Griezmann who United should seriously consider ahead of the summer transfer window:

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

The 27-year old Borussia Dortmund striker is on the wish list of almost every top club in Europe and why not? Aubameyang is coming on the back of another excellent season for the Germans. The Gabon international finished the season with an amazing tally of 39 goals and 5 assists from 45 games and was the top scorer in the Bundesliga, beating off competition from Robert Lewandowski.

Aubameyang is no doubt one of the most feared strikers in the game at this time after having proven himself on the domestic and European stages for years now. At 27, he will be entering his best years and with him in their ranks, there is no doubt that this Manchester United team will be unstoppable.

Alvaro Morata

The 24-year old Real Madrid star has had a difficult spell upon his return to Santiago Bernabeu from Juventus, with manager Zinedine Zidane preferring to use Karim Benzema ahead of the Spaniard. Despite him finding it hard to break into the starting line-up regularly, Morata has still managed to outscore Benzema and that is no mean feat. The academy graduate has found the back of the net on 20 occasions this season and has 6 assists to his name as well from 42 games – only 19 of which he has featured from the kick-off.

Morata has proved that he is more than capable of handling the pressure at big teams, on the big stages. And with the FIFA World Cup 2018 not very far away, he might consider a move away from Real in search of more first-team football and Manchester United could benefit from his situation.

Alexis Sanchez

Can United pull off another Robin van Persie kind of transfer with Alexis Sanchez as well? Now that they have managed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, one wouldn’t put that beyond the realm of possibility. The Chilean has been one of the best players in the Premier League ever since he joined the Gunners and has so far scored 29 goals and 19 assists from 50 games across all competitions for Arsenal, with the FA Cup final still to played. His tally of 24 league goals was the third-best in the league behind Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku.

The Gunners will be playing in the Europa League next season and there has been no real progress made over a new contract for the former Barcelona man, whose current deal expires in a year. Manchester United are more than capable of matching his wage demands and a move cannot be ruled out as United have qualified for the Champions League.