Opinion
Manchester United is no stranger when it comes to high-spending summer signings. €95 million on Antony, €85 million on Jadon Sancho, €39 million on Donny van de Beek, the list goes on.
I understand that the football economy has changed drastically since the singing of Peter Schmeichel from Malmo for €750,000 in 1991, or Eric ‘the King’ Cantona for just €1.8 million in ’93, but that doesn’t mean overspending is a necessity, and the club knows this.
Their crucial free agent signings of Edison Cavani and Christian Eriksen in recent years proves just that.
So, why do they do it? Whether it’s to outbid competing teams, or simply the Glazers flexing their shiny objects on the world stage, only the board knows. But what we know is that, alongside the Victor Osimhens and the Harry Kanes, there are more affordable world-class strikers in elite football that Manchester United must have their eye on in the upcoming transfer window.
These include PSG’s Hugo Ekitike and Santos’ Marcos Leonardo.
Hugo Ekitike, 20, is a lightning quick and talented French forward, currently playing with Lionel Messi’s Ligue 1 supergiants, Paris Saint-Germain. Despite only netting three goals this season, due to his restricted game time from being PSG’s second-choice striker to Kylian Mbappe, Ekitike is averaging at least one goal contribution every 157 minutes.
French newspaper Le Parisien has reported that Ekitike is to be transfer-listed at the end of the season and has already sparked interest from Premier League sides Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United. Ekitike has become a stand-out for his work ethic, being in Ligue 1’s 98th percentile for interceptions, and elite ball control.
I was privileged to see him play live, in January against Angers. He scored in just the seventh minute and dominated for the remaining 83. Despite all eyes being on Messi making his Ligue 1 return following his World Cup campaign, it was the young French forward who set the Parc des Princes alight.
Ekitike’s agility and dynamic movements, paired with his 189-centimetre stature and eye for goal, makes him a player I would love to see with the Red Devils next season.
(Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
Twenty-year-old Marcos Leonardo is the newest Brazilian wunderkid, with a move to Europe in the near future inevitable.
Leonardo has started the 2023 Santos season scoring eight goals in 21 appearances, including three goals in four Copa de Brasil games so far.
On top of being Santos’ leading goal-scorer for all competitions this season, Leonardo has also impressed for Brazil’s U20 side. Adding to his two strikes against Chile in 2022, Leonardo has started off his current U20 World Cup campaign in flying fashion, scoring three times in as many games.
With two group stage games left at time of writing, Leonardo’s Brazil currently sit top of Group D, with sides such as AS Roma and PSG showing interest in the young Brazilian. Despite only being 174 centimetres tall, his ability to win aerial challenges and lose his defender has led to comparisons to Liverpool’s Diogo Jota.
Leonardo hasn’t made a name for himself for his Hollywood passes, or his Puskas-worthy finishes, but what he does do is excel in build up and maintains composure and awareness both on and off the ball, making him one of the brightest talents in current world football, yet obtaining the same transfer value of Chelsea’s kitman.
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