If there’s one thing that’s clear to even the most casual of Manchester United fans, it’s the desperate need for a formidable centre-forward. Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Šeško ended the campaign as joint-top scorers on 11 goals each, but this simply isn’t good enough for leading attackers from a side with title ambitions.
Michael Carrick is bound to try to address the number nine issue in the summer transfer market, and he needs to look for a formidable striker who will strike fear in opposition defences. There are a few African players who fit that mould, and a few of them have been linked with the Red Devils in the past.
United Need a More Intimidating No. 9
African players often bring with them the qualities that United are currently lacking in front of goal, and the Premier League has seen some incredible names from the continent over the years. Finding the next Didier Drogba or Emmanuel Adebayor could put United firmly in the race against the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City next season.
As it stands, bettors can wager on who they think will win the league and combine that with the top scorer using a bet builder. However, the odds on United winning at the moment stand at around 13/2, meaning that people who use this function are more likely to combine bets such as City to win the league and Erling Haaland to become top scorer.
However, if United manage to bring in one of the African number nines they’ve previously been linked with, that could quickly change. One name that regularly comes up in discussions is Victor Osimhen, who Patrice Evra has urged Carrick to sign. The Nigerian has a proven track record for a range of clubs, and could be a devastating addition to United’s attack.
Signing More African Players Could Help Attract More Fans from the Continent
Aside from helping United out in the goals department, signing an African player could help the club reconnect with fans from the continent. During the Sir Alex Ferguson era at the club, United were easily the most supported side across the continent. However, younger generations of football fans have turned to the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, and Arsenal in recent years.
Part of the reason why people in Africa have moved away from simply supporting huge clubs like the Red Devils has been the availability of football content online. Along with being able to connect with clubs on social media and watch YouTube highlights, there are sites like Yellowbet Kenya that allow people in Africa to stake on the matches. There are odds on all the Premier League games, giving fans more reasons to watch all the matches.
If United want to have any chance at competing for the title next season, they’ll need to sign at least one proven goal scorer. Turning to an African powerhouse like Osimhen or Victor Boniface could be an excellent option from both a sporting and commercial perspective.
