5 players Manchester United could target to replace Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku’s exit is looming large and the Belgian striker is expected to dawn new colours before the transfer window shuts. He is being courted aggressively by Inter Milan, while Juventus also remain interested in his signature.

Lukaku’s departure would mean Solskjaer will need to add firepower upfront. He will need to buy a striker who can fire goals on a daily basis and be an improvement on Lukaku.

On that note, let’s have a look at five options the United boss can consider to replace the towering Belgian.

#5 Sebastian Haller (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Eintracht Frankfurt had both Luka Jovic and Sebastian Haller in top form last season. While the former has made a move to Real Madrid, the future also seems to be bright for his strike partner who has attracted interest from Manchester United.

Haller scored 15 goals in 31 appearances in all competitions for Frankfurt last season. Apart from his sharp-shooting skills, he has built a reputation as a real frightening presence in the air, winning a whopping 6.3 aerial duels on average. Imagine how his aerial exploits would come handy when United try to bombard defences with long balls!

Haller is currently rated at €40m – a price tag United will have no trouble matching this summer.

#4 Alfredo Morelos (Rangers)

Alfredo Morelos might not be a household name at the moment, but the Columbian is showing every minute sign of being one. Having aigned for Scottish side Rangers in 2017 in a £1m deal from HJK, the 23-year-old is dreaming of a Premier League move and United would pull out a real coup if they get him.

Morelos netted 26 goals in all competitions for Rangers last season, with 18 of those coming in the league. While numbers are important in football, so are a player’s attributes. And, Morelos’ qualities make him a tailor-made player for the English top-tier.

The Columbian is well-known for his physicality and strength. The Premier League is rigorous for newcomers but that won’t be a sort of problem for Morelos, who loves taking on defenders with the help of his searing pace. He is also defined as a goal-hungry player – a description that quite goes with the number of goals he scored for Rangers last season.

Given the fact that Morelos could be roped in for an extremely cheap amount, he would be a bargain signing United should look to avail.#3 Moussa Dembele (Lyon)

Moussa Dembele is one of the talented young strikers being watched by a number of European heavyweights at the moment.

The Lyon marksman has built a reputation as a goal-hungry predator, having scored 20 goals in 42 appearances for the French outfit last season.
The 22-year-old also takes an impressive 2.8 shots on target on an average per game. Those numbers are definitely an improvement when compared to Lukaku, who takes on 2 shots on target per game on an average.

Dembele is skilled with dribbling past his opponents and also likes to do layoffs. Lyon have quoted £35m for their striker – a sum United will only be too happy to match, given the talent they are getting in return.#2 Wissam Ben Yedder (Sevilla)

Pretty sure neither the United supporters nor the players will have forgotten Sevilla’s Wissam Ben-Yedder. The Spaniard’s brace in a substitute appearance was enough to dismantle the Red Devils and show them the exit door in the Champions League in 2018.

He may lack the physicality or the aerial strength that Lukaku possesses, but Ben Yedder offers so much more in other areas. Dribbling and finishing are his strongest attributes. He is also well-adept on holding the ball and bringing others into play. He is also well-known for his speed.

Ben Yedder scored 20 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions. Ben Yedder also has a low release clause of £35m, making him all the more tempting for United to sign him.#1 Paulo Dybala (Juventus)

Paulo Dybala needs no introduction when it comes to his footballing talents. The Italian striker is amongst the top goalscoring forwards in the world at the moment and United would jump at the chance to sign a player of his mould.

The 25-year-old had a substandard season where he scored just 6 goals in 32 appearances for the Bianconeri. However, his numbers fail to encapsulate the positives that he will bring to Old Trafford if United manage to sign him.

First and foremost, Dybala’s versatility will be an asset to Solskjaer. Apart from playing as a striker, he can also be deployed as a number 10 playmaker or a right winger, given his exquisite crossing abilities. Pairing Paulo Dybala with Marcus Rashford will be quite relishing, wouldn’t it?

With Paul Pogba increasingly edging closer to exit, Dybala could also be the face of the club from a marketing perspective. Juventus are chasing Pogba and could be a satisfactory deal for both the parties if the Old Lady include Dybala in a player-plus-cash deal for the Frenchman.

All Stats Courtesy: Whoscored.com