United's Urgent Search for a New No 9: Matanovic on the Radar
United’s search for a new No 9 has turned urgent and very public. With Joshua Zirkzee edging towards the exit and Fiorentina circling, Michael Carrick’s attack is being rebuilt on the fly – and a 6ft 5in Croatian has moved to the top of the list.
Zirkzee heading for the door
Zirkzee’s time at Old Trafford never truly caught fire. Nine goals in 75 appearances is a thin return for a forward signed to lead the line, and the Dutchman is now pushing to leave after a difficult spell in England. Talks with Fiorentina are moving, and the Italians are increasingly confident of landing him on a season-long loan.
For United, his departure is less a shock than a release. Offloading Zirkzee would clear wages, free up a squad slot and, crucially, unlock room to move in the market before Tuesday’s deadline. With Rasmus Hojlund already sold to Napoli, Carrick’s squad has been left short of a focal point. The lack of a ruthless edge was laid bare in the 2-0 defeat to Hull City, a result that exposed the thinness of United’s options in central areas.
Midfield has been addressed. Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba have slotted in to give United more control and energy. The problem now is simple: who finishes the chances?
Matanovic emerges as the target
Step forward Ljubomir Matanovic. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Freiburg striker has been identified as the ideal replacement to lead United’s front line.
At 23, Matanovic already looks like a centre-forward built for Premier League traffic. Tall, aggressive, and with a penalty-box instinct, he enjoyed a strong first season in Germany after his £6.9m move from Eintracht Frankfurt. Fifteen goals in all competitions under Julian Schuster underlined his growth, and he came within a game of capping it with silverware before Freiburg fell to Aston Villa in the Europa League final.
His form has not dipped. He failed to score in three outings at the summer’s World Cup, but any doubts have been quickly washed away by a blistering start to the new campaign. A brace in Freiburg’s DFB-Pokal win over Dusseldorf only sharpened the sense that he is ready for a bigger platform.
Comparisons with Mario Mandzukic are already doing the rounds: a relentless runner, awkward to defend, lethal when service is right. For a United side craving a more physical edge up front, the fit is obvious.
A three-way tug-of-war
Nothing about this chase is straightforward. Tottenham have entered the picture and are described as having a strong interest in the Croatian. Roberto De Zerbi wants more height and presence in his frontline, even with Dominic Solanke and Richarlison already on the books. Matanovic, with his frame and penalty-box aggression, ticks those boxes.
Then comes the Fiorentina twist. Fabio Grosso’s side are not just working on Zirkzee. They also view Matanovic as a potential alternative and are scouring the market to replace Moise Kean, who is set to join Cesc Fabregas at Como. If their pursuit of Zirkzee stalls, they are ready to pivot hard towards the Freiburg forward.
That is where the real tension lies. Should Fiorentina fail to close the Zirkzee loan, the Italian club could suddenly be fighting United and Spurs for Matanovic. What began as a neat domino chain – Zirkzee out, Matanovic in – could turn into a full-blooded bidding war.
United at a crossroads
United’s need is the most acute. With Hojlund gone and Zirkzee on the brink, Carrick is staring at a season with no established centre-forward and a team already punished for its lack of cutting edge. The recruitment of Tielemans and Baleba has stabilised the middle of the pitch, but there is no hiding place in the final third.
Matanovic would change the profile of this United side overnight. A towering target, aggressive in duels, a striker who drags centre-backs into uncomfortable areas – he would give Carrick a different route to goal and a focal point around which the rest of the attack could rotate.
But time is thin. Negotiations for Zirkzee’s exit are progressing, Fiorentina are confident, Spurs are lurking, and Freiburg hold an asset whose value is climbing with every goal.
If United can push Zirkzee through the door in time, they will finally have the funds and space to make their move. If they hesitate, they may watch the man they want bullied into another shirt – and head into the heart of the season still searching for someone to finish their moves.
