£30m gamble, proven alternative - who Man United should target in transfer window to solve striker problem

Not much has gone right for Manchester United this season and their troubles in front of goal have undoubtedly been their biggest problem.

The club agreed on a fee rising to £72million for Rasmus Hojlund in August 2023, with Joshua Zirkzee joining him at Old Trafford the following summer. The pair have just six league goals between them this season, with United marooned in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a -8 goal difference.

United's refusal to enter talks with Tottenham over a move for Harry Kane prior to his move to Bayern Munich is looking more and more costly by the week. They have to get their striker signing right this summer if they are to stand any chance of making progress under Ruben Amorim.

Ahead of what is set to be a crucial transfer window, our writers have had their say on which striker United should sign in the summer...

United's most effective striker signings in the last 15 years have been those approaching the twilight of their careers: Robin van Persie was in his 30th year when he signed while Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo were all in their 30s. One is almost wistful about Romelu Lukaku's record of 42 goals in 96 games.

Van Persie was signed because United had lost the 2012 title on goal difference. So Sir Alex Ferguson plumped for a world-class striker and the best in the Premier League. Ibrahimovic and Ronaldo were world-class upon their arrival and proven.

Given United will finish with a minus goal difference in back-to-back seasons, the prospect they could settle for a 'potential' striker signing defies all logic. Opting for one with a release clause would be tantamount to cutting corners. Even if United only end up signing one player, it has to be a