Man Utd backed to sign ‘world-class’ £42m star in swap deal, good fit for Amorim – opinion | OneFootball

Manchester United had a quiet winter transfer window and they did not make a forward signing.

The Red Devils sanctioned the loan exits of Marcus Rashford and Antony but opted against a replacement for either player before the transfer deadline.

The club are most likely to spend during the summer. A marquee striker could be the top priority for manager Ruben Amorim ahead of the 2025/26 season.

This could coincide with a possible striker exit and Tuttosport claim that Joshua Zirkzee could make way in an exchange deal for Juventus’ Douglas Luiz.

Luiz has been a long-term target for the Red Devils. He has remained on the club’s radar despite his switch from Aston Villa to the Bianconeri last year.

Tuttosport feel United could be willing to swap Zirkzee for the Brazilian. It is a solution which would suit both clubs without hampering their summer budgets.

Amorim could sanction Zirkzee’s exit to land Luiz

The Red Devils are set for a busy summer transfer window. A versatile central midfielder could be prioritised with Christian Eriksen and Casemiro poised to leave.

Luiz would be a perfect acquisition for Amorim. He can operate from the number six or number eight positions. He has a knack for making goal contributions too.

The midfielder had an excellent 2023/24 season with the Villans. He accumulated 10 goals and 10 assists from 53 outings. He also excelled with several other attributes.

The Brazilian had a passing accuracy of 89 percent. He won 50 percent of his duels with 5.7 recoveries and 1.7 tackles per league game. He also caught the eye with his work rate and high pressing.

Luiz, described as ‘world-class‘ by Villa midfielder John McGinn, has surprisingly failed to hit the ground running since his £42 million switch to Turin last summer.

The slower and tactical nature of the Italian top-flight has not worked in his favour. He could be tempted to return to the Premier League on a permanent basis this summer.

Zirkzee has shown promise over the past few weeks. However, if United were to land a marquee striker such as Viktor Gyokeres, Amorim could give the green light for Zirkzee’s exit.

United are more likely to keep Rasmus Hojlund alongside Gyokeres, considering the huge £72m outlay made. The Dane is almost two years younger than Zirkzee and has untapped potential.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com

Article written by Sri Aswin .