Manchester United are in desperate need of a centre-forward talisman following the abrupt departure of legendary forward Cristiano Ronaldo in November, and one marksman has been identified as a shrewd potential replacement.
While Ronaldo had already slipped into a more peripheral role this season under Erik ten Hag, starting only four times in the Premier League and scoring just three goals across all competitions, his absence has been felt by the Red Devils, who are discernibly short in central striking options.
As per Transfermarkt, Anthony Martial is the only natural senior centre-forward at Old Trafford currently.
Despite this, United have forged an incredible run of form, winning ten of their last 11 competitive fixtures, including all five games since the conclusion of the World Cup in Qatar.
According to Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Bayern Munich and Eric Choupo-Moting are in contract negotiations over a renewal of terms, although United are very much interested in prising him away from Bavarian clutches.
Plettenberg tweeted this week: “News Choupo-Moting: First meeting about a new contract between Salihamidzic, Neppe, Choupos father & his agent today. Good talks but no fast decision. He doesn’t want to be the backup next season. Clubs like MUFC still pushing for a transfer in winter.”
With uncertainty surrounding the future ownership at the Theatre of Dreams, some of the more lucrative names touted with a move to Manchester might not materialise in the coming weeks. Rather, the strategy of technical director John Murtough must be to target affordable options who can make an instant impact at the club, and Choupo-Moting fits the bill.
Having made 74 appearances for Bayern, scoring 29 goals and supplying nine assists, the Cameroonian has been an astute operator for his current club.
This season especially, the 73-cap striker has been in emphatic form, scoring 11 times from 16 games for one of Europe’s most eminent clubs, despite only starting nine times.
The nomadic forward has also tested his mettle in the Premier League before, scoring five goals and delivering five assists from 30 appearances while playing for an ultimately relegated Stoke City during the 2017/18 campaign.
As per FBref, the dynamic powerhouse ranks within the top 2% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals and assists over the past year. He is also in the top 9% for dribbles completed and progressive passes, illustrating the multi-faceted approach which could knit the Old Trafford attack together and provide different approaches to bypass opposition defences.
Hailed as a late bloomer by the official Bundesliga website and a “top-level” striker by his former Mainz coach Thomas Tuchel, the 33-year-old could provide a clinical sheen and cutting edge for United, who are already exhibiting promising signs in abundance and could forge that extra bit of might by signing a reliable marksman such as Choupo-Moting.
