Manchester United are on the market for a striker following an injury to Marcus Rashford. The Red Devils are currently battling on four fronts with a thin squad and are in dire need of reinforcements to stay competitive.
The departures of Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku last summer have left the club short of options in attack, as the pair were not replaced. Even worse, Rashford's injury means that Anthony Martial and 18-year-old Mason Greenwood are only options left for Manchester United upfront.
The English giants have been linked with a move for AC Milan striker Krzysztof Piatek. Multiple sources indicate that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a big fan of the Polish forward and is keen on bringing him to Old Trafford before the January transfer window closes.
In truth, Piatek is a very realistic target, with AC Milan having already signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic in January. The Swede’s arrival at the San Siro has limited Piatek’s game time and that makes the latter’s departure a great possibility.
United are likely to face competition from the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham for the Poland striker's signature, but there’s a lot the Old Trafford faithful can expect, should the club manage to sign him.
Below are three things Piatek could bring to Man United should they capture his signature:
#3 Piatek is the type of target man Manchester United lack
Manchester United’s rebuilding since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson has not gone very well, and the recruitment of strikers has been one of the big disappointments. The signings of Sanchez and Lukaku are typical examples of this sham.
However, should the club be able to sign Piatek, they’d be getting a perfect target man that they’ve lacked for sometime now. The Red Devils have played with both Martial and Rashford as No.9s this season, but none of the two is a typical striker.
In Piatek, United would be getting a player who is truly accustomed to the No.9 role. Not since the days of Robin van Persie and more recently Ibrahimovic have the Red Devils had a player of this sort in their ranks. The Polish striker is strong in the air and can play with his back to the goal.
These are attributes that both Martial and Rashford lack. Surely, Piatek would be an upgrade on the current attacking options that Solskjaer has at his disposal.
#2 He's a proven goalscorer
Piatek guarantees goals. At just 24, the Poland striker has already become famous for scoring goals wherever he goes. He scored 19 goals in 21 appearances for Genoa last season, before completing a move to AC Milan in January 2019.
He also hit the ground running at the San Siro, scoring on his debut and immediately becoming a toast of the fans. Piatek ended up with 12 goals in 22 games for the Rossoneri in all competitions last season.
For a player who was playing in the Polish league just a year-and-a-half ago, his development has been unbelievable. And the fact that he has proven that he needs very little time to adapt should excite the Manchester United fans.
Piatek boasts a phenomenal goalscoring record but has struggled in front of goal this season, netting just four Serie A goals in the present campaign. For a Manchester United team struggling for goals, the Polish striker’s golden feet would definitely be needed to sprinkle some magic at Old Trafford. His goals could ensure United finishing the season in a top four spot.
#1 He’s mobile and a perfect fit for Solskjaer’s system
Solskjaer has constantly highlighted that he would not sanction a move for any player who does not fit his system. The Norwegian manager has a clear idea of how he wants his team to play – quick passing and an explosive counter-attacking machinery.
For this reason, he has trimmed the squad he inherited, with the likes of Lukaku, Sanchez and Marouane Fellaini all being shown the exit door. Fortunately, Piatek is a perfect fit for Solskjaer's system.
While the Manchester United manager didn’t fancy Lukaku for his lack of mobility and link up play, Piatek is a striker who boasts those qualities in abundance. The Polish forward is not just lethal in the opposition box, he is also the ball-playing type.
Should United sign him, the club would be getting a mobile striker who readily fits Solskjaer’s system. Piatek is exactly what the club need at the moment.
Also Read: 3 reasons why Manchester United should look to sign AC Milan's Krzysztof Piatek