Man United can consider wildcard £30m transfer to solve striker search - but there's a catch

If this summer's transfer window has already taught us anything, it's that signing a striker is not going to be an easy task for Manchester United.

After seeing top target Liam Delap join Chelsea, United have been left with no choice but to explore alternative avenues in their hunt for a goal-getter.

Delap, despite not being the proven and established No.9 United are in such desperate need of this summer, was an attainable target due to the £30million release clause that had been inserted into his Ipswich Town contract following his arrival from Manchester City last summer.

Delap scored 12 goals in his first full season as a Premier League striker and was not light on suitors as a result. His release clause and his potential made him an attractive option.

However, it goes without saying that United need a proven goalscorer this summer. They gambled on potential with Rasmus Hojlund in 2023 and did exactly the same with Joshua Zirkzee last year.

Neither player arrived at Old Trafford with a proven goalscoring record and that is why United are in such desperate need of an established goalscorer for the third summer transfer window running. However, securing a proven goalscorer is an easier said than done task.

United have been linked with a flurry of strikers in recent weeks, both domestically and abroad, including Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace, Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres, Napoli's Victor Osimhen and soon-to-be free agent Jonathan David.

Having already signed Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5m and remaining hopeful of signing Brentford ace Bryan Mbeumo for a potentially similar fee, United do not have a bottomless pit to turn to this summer in their quest to sign a No.9, meaning they may have no choice