Manchester United have faced difficulties of their own in front of goal this season.
Michael Carrick has used Matheus Cunha as a false 9 while Benjamin Sesko is nursing a shin injury. Joshua Zirkzee was close to a move during the summer transfer window and doesn’t seem to be in Michael Carrick’s plan.
Zirkzee made his case for minutes against Tottenham after scoring for the Netherlands during the international break. However, he is expected to be offloaded during the January transfer window.
Several names have been linked with Manchester United, including Jean-Philippe Mateta, to join during the January transfer window. The latest name on the list is Freiburg’s Igor Matanovic.
Igor Matanovic is reportedly open to a move to the Premier League, with Manchester United among the clubs keeping an eye on the Freiburg striker.
Sources cited by Football Insider claim Matanovic would “jump” at the opportunity to join Manchester United in the coming years. Arsenal and Chelsea are also understood to be interested, but there is not expected to be any movement during the January transfer window.
Igor Matanovic catching attention at Freiburg
Matanovic has registered nine goal involvements in just seven matches this season, following a 15-goal campaign last term.
Matanovic finished last season as Freiburg’s leading scorer in the league and has carried that form into the new campaign.
According to the report, Matanovic is particularly attracted by the possibility of playing in England. That makes a move to one of the interested Premier League sides a realistic possibility further down the line, although his immediate future is expected to remain in Germany.
Any move for United depends on how their striker situation develops over the next few months. Benjamin Sesko remains part of Michael Carrick’s plans despite his injury concerns, while Joshua Zirkzee’s future has also been the subject of speculation.
Matanovic therefore looks more like a player United could revisit next summer rather than an immediate January target.
