INEOS signed a “homegrown Osimhen” who can end Zirkzee’s Man Utd career

Not that it wasn’t before Cristiano Ronaldo’s short-lived return to Manchester United, but the centre-forward position has been a bigger issue in the years since.

In fact, the 2022/23 season has seen Anthony Martial score just nine goals in all competitions, including just six in the Premier League, while Wout Weghorst, who arrived in January, has scored just twice after his surprise move from Burnley.

The following season saw an injury-hit Martial score just two goals in all competitions, while new man Rasmus Hoglund fired in 16 goals, albeit just ten in the league.

Hoglund then followed that up by scoring ten goals on all fronts last season, only four of which came in the top flight. Meanwhile, £36.5m signing Joshua Zirkzee has scored seven goals, including just three in the league.

The fact of the matter is that United simply do not have a proven goalscorer to rely on, with the recent defeat to Everton highlighting why this man Zirkzee – who has not scored a league goal in almost a year – is not the answer.

Latest news about Joshua Zirkzee’s future

In the absence of Benjamin Sisko – who scored just twice following his £74m move from RB Leipzig – it was Zirkzee who got the nod against the Toffees, having played just 90 minutes in total throughout the season before that.

Rusty or not in his first start of the 2025/26 season, the Dutchman has looked painfully out of his depth at times, so at odds with the pace and physicality that is rampant in Premier League football.

There were moments of quality, including two well-directed headers and an attractive cross across the box, but the 24-year-old was largely ineffective against the shifty James Tarkowski, remarkably giving the ball away 12 times from just 35 touches.

Having been given a rare chance to shine, the former Bologna man has shown why he has remained a bystander for much of the season so far, raising doubt over his long-term future at Old Trafford.

In fact, the latest reports have suggested that the 6-foot-4 forward may have already said yes to joining Roma on an initial loan deal in January, having previously been named Serie A’s Young Player of the Year in the 2023/24 season.

While United’s options in attack will be further limited due to Amad and Brian Mbomou’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations commitments, it would not be a surprise for Zirkzee to depart upon his return in the new year, with seven goals in a total of 55 appearances for the club making it bleak reading for any centre-forward.

There is talent there, with his fleet of feet and silky touch drawing comparisons to the likes of Dimitar Berbatov, although United are in their current period of flux under Ruben Amorim, desperate for an outright goalscorer.

Fortunately, INEOS has already signed one.

Manchester United’s ‘local Osimhen’ could replace Zirkzee

With both Cisco and Matthews Cunha out, it was clear how little attacking depth United had in the reserves, with Mason Mount the only real striker Amorim could turn to on the bench.

While 18-year-old young star Shea Lacey featured in the matchday squad, eyebrows were raised by the decision to overlook his academy teammate, Chido Obi, with Zirkzee eventually playing the full 90 minutes.

Obi was parachuted into the first-team squad as a drastic measure last season, amid United’s injury crisis, having made eight first-team appearances in total in 2024/25, albeit without scoring.

Frustratingly for the 17-year-old – who scored in the post-season round against Hong Kong – he has not been seen in the first-team squad since, with Amorim noting he was promoted “too early” last season.

There is no denying that Obi looked lethargic, not least in his solitary start against Brentford, but he also showed flashes of his undeniable talent, having come close to converting the ball from a corner in the FA Cup tie with Fulham at Old Trafford.

Signed from Arsenal in the summer of 2024, the free-scoring striker has improved his youth form of late, scoring 32 goals in just 21 Under-18 appearances for Arsenal, according to Transfermarkt, while he followed that up with 12 goals in ten Under-18 appearances for United.

With five goals in 13 this season at the above age group, Obi is once again showing why he deserves a second chance under Amorim, with the teenager representing a traditional centre-forward option that Zirkzee simply does not represent.

The young Danish international, described by Arsenal content creator Will Balsam as a “homegrown Osimhen”, could be the ideal replacement for Sisko, rather than Zirkzee, as Amorim’s setup requires a more dynamic and mobile option to run the channels.

Of course, Amorim would be wise to be cautious in developing such a talent, but at a time when a string of centre-forward signings have not worked out, why not turn to Carrington again?

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