Man Utd Consider Sorloth as Striker Option Before Deadline
Manchester United’s late scramble for a centre-forward has taken a familiar twist – straight back to Norway.
Alexander Sorloth, close friend and international teammate of Erling Haaland, has been offered to United by intermediaries, with the Atletico Madrid striker emerging as a serious option in the final days of the window, sources have told TEAMtalk.
United’s need is clear. Joshua Zirkzee has gone to Fiorentina, leaving Michael Carrick short of firepower and short of time before Tuesday’s deadline. The club want another striker, but not just another squad body. They are targeting a genuine central presence to complement Benjamin Sesko, and Sorloth fits the brief.
The 30-year-old is open to leaving Atletico this summer. A return to the Premier League appeals, with unfinished business lingering from his earlier spell at Crystal Palace. This time, the pitch is different: a more mature forward, a more defined role, and a club that needs his profile.
Atletico have been impressed with Sorloth’s contribution. His frame, his aerial dominance, his willingness to occupy centre-backs – all of it has underpinned his rise in Madrid. Across his career, he has racked up 175 goals in 475 appearances, numbers that speak to a seasoned operator rather than a gamble.
But the Spanish side will only open the door if they can lock down a replacement.
Atletico’s domino effect
Atletico intend to keep Julian Alvarez, who remains central to their plans, yet they still want another striker in the building. Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal and former Lille forward Jonathan David are among the names on their list.
That pursuit has dragged Juventus into the picture. The Italian club are exploring a complex potential deal for David, with Sorloth and Nico Gonzalez floated as possible components in an exchange. Those negotiations are proving anything but straightforward, and every delay there keeps Sorloth’s situation in flux.
Amid that web of talks, David’s name has also landed on United’s desk. TEAMtalk can confirm he has been offered to the club, with United now weighing whether the Canada international could be another solution to their attacking puzzle.
The market is moving. So are United’s options.
Mateta, Matanovic and the younger trail
Sorloth is not alone on the shortlist. United have held conversations with Crystal Palace over Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr, although both potential deals are described as complicated.
Behind that, there is a younger tier of targets. Freiburg’s Igor Matanovic, Hoffenheim’s Fisnik Asllani and RB Leipzig’s Conrad Harder have all been discussed internally as possible longer-term projects rather than immediate focal points.
The contrast is stark. On one side, Sorloth: experienced, battle-hardened, ready to lead the line from day one. On the other, prospects who might need months, even seasons, before they can shoulder the responsibility at Old Trafford.
A Norwegian twist in Manchester
Sorloth’s willingness to return to England, combined with Atletico’s conditional openness to a sale, makes this one to watch as the clock ticks down. His close relationship with Manchester City’s Haaland only adds an extra layer to the story – the prospect of two Norway forwards, friends off the pitch, potentially lining up on opposite sides of a divided city.
For United, the equation remains brutally simple. They want a striker who can genuinely complement Sesko, not block his path or replicate his game. If the right profile does not emerge, there is a real chance they walk away without signing anyone.
In a window defined by fine margins and late moves, the question now is whether Alexander Sorloth becomes the powerful Plan B that unlocks United’s attack – or just another name that slipped through in the final days of August.
