For the thirteenth time within the Premier League this season, Manchester United performed out a full 90-minute match with out getting on the scoresheet, having slipped to a slim 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday afternoon.
Pablo Sarabia’s 77th-minute free-kick was a uncommon second of high quality in a largely lifeless affair at Previous Trafford, albeit with the hosts prone to really feel they need to have walked away with all three factors.
Certainly, Rasmus Hojlund notably got here agonisingly near getting on the tip of Alejandro Garnacho’s pushed cross, whereas each Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount additionally produced wayward makes an attempt after being expertly picked out by the Argentine winger.
Even an inch-perfect, exterior of the boot cross from Christian Eriksen couldn’t be capitalised on by Mount, with the £55m Englishman nonetheless having scored simply as soon as since his arrival again in the summertime of 2023.
Hojlund too has netted solely three league objectives in 2024/25 thus far, a grim return for any main quantity 9, with Ruben Amorim prone to be tearing his hair out at his facet’s irritating profligacy.
Having gone from seeing Viktor Gyokeres dazzle below his watch, the Portuguese coach is now in determined want of a brand new attacking figurehead.
Newest on Man Utd’s seek for a ahead
The entire speak at current is centred round United’s obvious progressing curiosity in Wolverhampton Wanderers talisman, Matheus Cunha, with it wanting probably that the membership will set off the Brazilian’s £62.5m launch clause, amid constructive talks over his potential contract in Manchester.
The 14-goal marksman is probably not the one Premier League expertise to reach on the Theatre of Goals this summer season, nonetheless, with the Day by day Mail’s Simon Jones – who outlined that an settlement relating to Cunha is inching nearer – additionally naming a raft of high-profile stars who’re into consideration.
Certainly, in response to Jones, amongst these to have made the INEOS shortlist is Bournemouth man, Antoine Semenyo, with the Purple Devils already mentioned to have held talks over signing the Ghanaian ahead.
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This follows prior reviews which outlined that United are literally frontrunners within the race for the 25-year-old’s signature, albeit with it but to be seen if Amorim and co shall be prepared or capable of match the Cherries’ £70m price ticket.
A flexible asset who can function on the flanks or in a central position, Semenyo may characterize the right addition to bolster Amorim’s ahead line, with the potential their for the 40-year-old to morph him into his new Gyokeres-esque talisman.
Why Man Utd could possibly be focusing on Amorim’s new Gyokeres
As outlined by journalist Mark Ogden, it has been a exceptional rise for the Sporting CP sensation in latest occasions, having gone from being bought for simply £1m by then-Brighton and Hove Albion director, Dan Ashworth, again in 2021, to now standing aloft because the “hottest striker in Europe”.
Certainly, the 6 foot 2 Swede failed to truly make a league look for the Seagulls, whereas enduring a handful of lower than spectacular mortgage spells away from the Amex – having notably scored simply 5 objectives in 2020/21 for the likes of Swansea Metropolis and Coventry Metropolis.
That regular rise solely actually ignited following Gyokeres’ everlasting swap to Coventry on the finish of that marketing campaign, as he went on to attain 38 occasions within the Championship over the subsequent two seasons.
Since transferring to Lisbon on a £17m deal in 2023, the 26-year-old has soared even increased, bagging 90 objectives in simply 96 video games – 66 of which got here in simply 68 outings below Amorim’s watch.
That journey from EFL struggler to elite-level monster is one which Semenyo actually is aware of nicely, with the London-born ace having began out on the books at Bristol Metropolis, whereas additionally taking up mortgage strikes on the likes of Bathtub Metropolis, Newport County and Sunderland.
The 6 foot 1 star memorably failed to attain throughout that limp stint on the Stadium of Mild, whereas truly solely scoring 21 occasions in 121 video games again at Ashton Gate – albeit whereas plundering an extra 21 assists.
Like Gyokeres, nonetheless, it has taken the step up from the second tier for Semenyo to really flourish, having now scored 16 Premier League objectives for the reason that begin of 2023/24, whereas contributing an extra eight assists.
Like Gyokeres too, what additionally stands out relating to the in-demand expertise is simply what a strong presence he’s within the remaining third, having been hailed as “virtually unplayable” at occasions by journalist Ed Aarons.
Semenyo vs Gyokeres – 22/23 Champ stats | ||
|---|---|---|
Stat (per 90) | Semenyo | Gyokeres |
Non-penalty objectives | 0.43 | 0.40 |
Assists | 0.14 | 0.22 |
Shot-creating actions | 1.87 | 4.27 |
Move completion | 65.6 | 67.3% |
Progressive passes | 1.87 | 2.01 |
Progressive carries | 2.23 | 4.43 |
Profitable take-ons | 1.59 | 2.15 |
Touches in opposition field | 6.27 | 7.16 |
Aerial duels received | 3.24 | 1.86 |
Stats by way of FBref | ||
Curiously too, the pair had been deemed to be related gamers amongst their friends through the 2022/23 season within the Championship, as per FBref, with Semenyo having largely been working in a central position on the time.
That likeness bodes nicely for the influence that the two-footed Ghana star could make below Amorim, with the £70m man representing the kind of ready-made Premier League expertise who can breathe new life into United’s misfiring attacking unit.
After years of scouring the Eredivisie, particularly, for brand spanking new signings, now may nicely be the time to look a little bit nearer to house…
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