Manchester United want and need a new striker this summer despite possessing two number nines who have arrived over the past three years. Joshua Zirkzee joined the Red Devils from Bologna last summer in a £36.5m deal but it's fair to say the Dutch attacker was misprofiled.
Rasmus Hojlund arrived from Atalanta in the summer of 2023 for a total of £72m (per Sky Sports) and there was plenty of excitement that came with his signing. The Dane was a young but hungry frontman who caught the eye at Gewiss Stadium. He was evidently raw but had shown glimpses of promise to be a star in the future.
That was until the 22-year-old, who managed just FOUR Premier League goals last season, was immediately tasked with leading the line at Old Trafford. The club put tremendous pressure on his shoulders and he's crumbled, a shell of the talent he was in Italy.
Erik ten Hag has previously insisted he wanted Harry Kane as his first-choice and for Hojlund to be developed. That stance made perfect sense given the Denmark international would work with a player who knows the Premier League inside and out.
The striker's market is looking increasingly scarce for United due to the restrictions on their budget. But there's one free agent who could serve as a stop-gap and help Hojlund get his confidence back and learn how to be a terror up top in the English top-flight.
Jamie Vardy can mentor Hojlund
We are all dreaming of seeing an Alexander Isak or Benjamin Sesko pull up at Carrington for a medical but it's just not going to happen. The club doesn't have the money to spend on a new number nine over the £40m mark following the arrivals of Bryan Mbeumo (£71m) and Matheus Cunha (£62.5m).
This is why INEOS will now likely take a cautious approach to find a new number nine and one option is Jamie Vardy. The veteran Englishman left Leicester City last month after his contract expired and is still without a new club which perhaps points towards him waiting to see if United come calling.
Vardy's best days are way behind him but he is a free agent and that could be of huge benefit to Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese coach needs experience and fighters who show the right desire to play for the club.
The 38-year-old doesn't have to be the only number nine signing but on a free he could be the signing that unlocks Hojlund. The Dane's lack of confidence has been a big problem and that's one of Vardy's main attributes, not afraid to rattle the opposition and let them know who's in charge.
The former 26-cap England international was actually decent in front of goal last season despite Leicester's relegation. He registered nine goals and four assists in 35 league games, a much better record than Hojlund or Zirkzee.
A new versatile striker could arrive alongside Vardy
United's transfer chiefs seem reluctant to pay the big bucks for a new striker because they're wary about their budget. That's understandable, especially seeing how much the likes of £69m Hugo Ekitike are going for.
That's why an out-and-out striker like Vardy arriving on a free alongside a versatile frontman who can offer Amorim more options could be the way to go. One of those could be Chelsea's Christopher Nkunku who has operated in a variety of attacking roles during his career.
Nkunku has been a dissapointment at Stamford Bridge but don't let his Blues struggles disspell his time at RB Leipzig. The Frenchman was a real hit, bagging 70 goals in 172 games and becoming the German giants' talisman.
The 27-year-old is just one of many versatile options should Vardy come with another attacker. The west Londoners are reportedly open to a sale and have slashed £22m off his price-tag, per Metro.
Other options include Borussia Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi who is a speedster who could flourish as a rotating option. There is also Sporting CP's Conrad Harder who Amorim will know well and has been tipped to become the next Viktor Gyokeres.
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