Manchester United have missed out on signing their perfect striker for a cut-price fee

Man United are in desperate need of a striker this summer, but their search is yet to provide them with a positive answer.

You would be hard-pressed to find a striker who has not been linked with Manchester United in this summer's transfer window already.

After missing out on Liam Delap, United have been left with no choice but to explore alternative avenues in their search for a goalscorer.

Delap was available for £30million this summer via a release clause, meaning he would have been a relatively straightforward signing to have got over the line.

However, despite scoring a respectable tally of 12 Premier League goals for relegated Ipswich Town last season, United are in need of someone more proven and experienced. It is why ongoing reports linking them with Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres and Napoli ace Victor Osimhen make so much sense.

The aforementioned duo have established themselves as two of Europe's most prolific and reliable goal-getters in the last couple of years. Gyokeres has scored 97 goals in the last two seasons for Sporting and Osimhen plundered 37 goals in 41 games on loan at Galatasaray in 2024/25.

As a result, both of them will command hefty-sized transfer fees this summer. It is no secret United need to watch the pennies this summer, meaning outgoings will dictate what can be achieved amid their hunt for a striker.

The Reds have already spent £62.5m on Matheus Cunha and Brentford ace Bryan Mbeumo looks set to command a similar fee. If they spend somewhere in the region of £120m just on those two, incomings are likely to cease until players are sold.

It is why United, as desperate as they are for a No.9, may have to lower their expectations when trying to source a goal-getter and move away from those with such prestigious profiles.

Among the strikers to have been linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent months is Crystal Palace ace Jean-Philippe Mateta. The Frenchman, who will turn 28 later this week, enjoyed an excellent 2024/25 campaign at Selhurst Park, scoring 17 goals across all competitions.

He's a boring striker to play against," Thierry Henry said of Mateta last year. "He doesn't lose the ball much, and he goes at the last defender.

"He uses his physicality, he's good with his head, and he scores. It's important that a striker like that gives you another dimension."

Although he would tie in with United's objective of signing proven Premier League players this summer, he is unlikely to be available at a price they could currently entertain. His contract was due to expire next summer, but Palace triggered the option they had to extend his stay until 2027 last December, meaning they have protected his value.

Had his deal been up next summer, United may have been able to convince Palace into considering a sale at a cut-price fee amid the danger of him leaving for free next year.

Instead, with two years remaining on his deal, Palace, in the event of suitors coming knocking, have plenty of leeway to try and demand as a high a price as possible for one of their star attractions. Their valuation is unlikely to be affordable for United right now.