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Topics: Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag, Premier League, Transfers, Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Ollie Watkins
Ryan Smart
Topics: Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag, Premier League, Transfers, Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Ollie Watkins
Manchester United have compiled a shortlist of five strikers to attempt to sign this summer, according to reports.
The shortlist has emerged days after the club decided not to pursue a move for Spurs forward Harry Kane, citing the potential cost of a transfer.
According to The Guardian, manager Erik ten Hag has accepted that United 'cannot go past a certain point' when it comes to transfer fee and salary for the 29-year-old.
Kane was United's top target for the summer, but they now must focus their attentions elsewhere at the start of what could prove to be a busy summer.
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They have been heavily linked with a move to Rasmus Hojlund, with Fabrizio Romano claiming that the Danish forward, who scored nine league goals this season, would be keen on a move to Old Trafford.
A new report claims that the 20-year-old is one of five strikers that United are interested in this summer.
Man Utd 'have five-striker shortlist'
According to The Athletic, Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins is on United's radar, having been watched by the club's scouts.
The 25-year-old striker impressed under Unai Emery this season in a more central role, netting 15 Premier League goals.
The report adds that there are only a 'small pool of players' that can fit Ten Hag's brief for United. His other reported targets - Benfica's Goncalo Ramos, Frankfurt's Randal Kolo Muani and Napoli's Victor Osimhen - could all be out of the club's price range as a result.
Ramos scored 19 goals in 30 Liga Portugal games this season as the replacement for Darwin Nunez. Last month, United vice-captain Bruno Fernandes spoke of his potential to be 'one of the best strikers in the world' in an interview with Sport TV (via A Bola).
Osimhen, meanwhile, recently won the Serie A Golden Boot and lifted his first Scudetto with Napoli. But the Italian giants want £150 million to sell him, as per various reports.
Kolo Muani starred in the World Cup final with France, and his all-round performances will have impressed Ten Hag. As well as his 15 goals, the striker provided 11 assists in the Bundesliga this season. He can also play out wide as well as centrally, and Frankfurt have reportedly set an asking price of £78 million.
Signing any of the above options would set United back a significant sum of money - but it is a priority position for their manager this summer.