Tag: 18goal

The likes of Raphael Varane, Paul Pogba, Angel Di Maria, Romelu Lukaku and Radamel Falcao have enjoyed huge success elsewhere but didn’t live up to expectations at United.

Even top young players such as Antony, Rasmus Hojlund and Jadon Sancho have found United a difficult home to fulfil their potential.

Joshua Zirkzee may be the latest name to join that list having so far struggled at Old Trafford.

United signed Zirkzee from Bologna over the summer but his lack of goals has been a concern and fans even cheered Zirkzee off as he was substituted against Newcastle United on Monday.

Manchester United scout red-hot striker

Juventus remain interested in Zirkzee and it would not be a huge surprise to see him leave in 2025 having struggled so far.

United are unsurprisingly looking at other strikers, possibly with the idea of replacing Zirkzee in the near future.

The Daily Mail report that United scouts were watching Porto in action against Boavista on Saturday with striker Samu Aghehowa believed to be the target.

Samu only joined Porto from Atletico Madrid over the summer but he has seriously impressed this season.

Aghehowa has now scored 18 goals in 21 games for Porto this season and scored twice in a 4-0 thrashing of Boavista.

United may not be in a position to move for Aghehowa in January given the club’s financial restrictions, but he is certainly a name to keep tabs on for the summer.

Who is United target Samu Aghehowa?

Aghehowa was born in Melilla to Nigerian parents and started out in the Granada ranks, scoring 18 times in 36 games for their B team.

The 20-year-old joined Atletico in 2023 but was loaned straight to Alaves, scoring eight goals in La Liga last season.

Aghehowa – who went by ‘Samu Omorodion’ last season – has now earned a first Spain cap having been on fire for Porto.

A huge presence at 6ft 4in tall, Aghehowa has already shown United what he is all about with two goals against United in the Europa League this season.

Barcelona’s Deco has even compared the ‘very annoying’ Aghehowa to Viktor Gyokeres, the man who couldn’t stop scoring under Ruben Amorim at Sporting.

“They are both similar. Samu is physically strong and can easily get to the goal. Last season, against Barcelona, he scored a goal and had two or three chances. He is a player who is very annoying, who is very strong and who can have a big impact in the Portuguese league,” Deco told O Jogo.

That may well excite United fans given the admiration for Gyokeres and Amorim may well be keeping one eye on the Portuguese market.

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