Manchester United ended the year on a disappointing note after a 2-0 Premier League loss to Newcastle United at Old Trafford last night.
The Red Devils were dominated by the Magpies from the off. They were on the back foot as the visitors scored twice in the first 19 minutes.
United were unable to reduce the deficit for the remainder of the game. Rasmus Hojlund and Casemiro missed two big chances in the opening half.
Hojlund has been the club’s regular starter up front under manager Ruben Amorim, but his performances have been far from the required level.
The Dane has struggled to make a big impression as the main striker. Against the Magpies, he was better on the ball with 16 out of his 21 passes completed.
However, he did not register a single shot on target. He won just four out of nine duels contested and was guilty of losing possession on 14 occasions.
Samuel Luckhurst said that the striker was ‘bullied’ by Fabian Schar and gave him a 3/10 rating.
Hojlund has struggled to live up to the huge price tag and in our view, the club should pursue a quality competitor from the transfer market this winter.
Joshua Zirkzee has also been a huge disappointment since he arrived from Bologna. The Dutchman has failed to cope with the intensity and physicality of the league.
United need someone more experienced to lead the attack in the back end of the campaign. They should explore a loan deal for Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani.
The Frenchman is almost guaranteed to leave PSG after falling out-of-favour under manager Luis Enrique.
The 26-year-old had a splendid 2022/23 season with Eintracht Frankfurt with 23 goals and 17 assists from 46 outings, but he has managed only 11 goals and seven assists from 54 games for PSG.
Muani has been restricted to only 44 minutes per appearance in his time in Paris and a change of scenery could bring the best out of him, particularly with a regular starting role.
Aside from his goal involvements, the ‘explosive‘ striker possesses a tireless work rate and can win regular duels. He can also drop into deeper attacking positions to link-up play.
His mobility on the playing field would suit Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system. United can’t afford a permanent transfer next month, but a loan deal with a buy clause would be a good solution.
United can assess whether the France international can adapt to the demands of the Premier League before considering a permanent transfer at the end of the ongoing season.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com
Article written by Sri Aswin .
