Manchester United’s search for a new center-forward has gotten off to a rocky start – Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani has explicitly turned down the Red Devils, preferring a move to Juventus, forcing Erik ten Hag’s recruitment plans to pivot quickly to other targets.
Muani, a recent target of United’s, is already aligned with Juventus. Despite PSG valuing the French forward at over £35 million, Juve are pushing negotiations with a "loan + optional buyout" proposal (unlike last year’s pure loan). Italian transfer expert Orazio Acermando noted: "Muani has rejected United; right now, he’s only waiting on Juve, with a basic agreement already in place between the player and the club."
United remain undeterred. The hierarchy are "very convinced" they’ll secure a new striker in the final month of the summer window, with talks planned this week with manager Erik ten Hag to finalize targets. But challenges loom: Newcastle, set to receive around £150 million from Liverpool’s potential signing of Alexander Isak, are joining the fray, competing with United for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Šeško (Leipzig insists on an £80 million floor) and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, among others.
Šeško’s future is critical – Newcastle have a contract ready and will approach Leipzig next week. United, though listing him as a top target, face sticker shock: the Slovenian’s price tag (€70-80 million plus €5-10 million in add-ons) is steep, and Newcastle’s financial firepower complicates things.
If European targets fall through, United are eyeing Saudi Pro League option Aleksandar Mitrović. The 30-year-old Serbian, a proven Premier League scorer (15 goals for Fulham in his last PL season, 68 goals in two seasons at Al Hilal), could be signed for under £20 million – though he’d need to take a significant pay cut.
As the summer window sprint heats up, United are juggling a scramble for targets: fending off Newcastle for Šeško, or banking on Mitrović’s value. The race for a new striker is set to go down to the wire.
