According to The Sun, Manchester United are considering a potential swoop for Napoli forward Arkadiusz Milik.
What's the word?
The Red Devils have looked short on firepower this season, scoring just 32 goals in 21 Premier League games, and failing to bring in a replacement for Romelu Lukaku following his departure to Inter in the summer.
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Now, The Sun claim Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are eyeing up a potential deal for Milik, but face a major obstacle in their pursuit of the Poland international. The report suggests that the striker is in talks with his current club, Napoli, over signing a new long-term deal - his existing contract expires next year. It adds that should those negotiations break down, then United are ready to take action.
Easing the burden
Following United's brave decision to not sign a replacement for Lukaku, the pressure was well and truly on the likes of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood to deliver the goods. Having an 18-year-old as your third-choice striker certainly takes some courage. And whilst the trio have arguably done well with 17, 10 and eight goals respectively, there is no doubting a swoop for a proven goal-scorer wouldn't go amiss.
And in Milik, they would be getting someone who is a clinical finisher, who is a penalty box predator. As per Sofascore, he averages a goal every 98 minutes in Serie A this season, whilst according to Understat, just one of his seven goals in the league have come outside the box - in fact, four of them have come within the confines of the six-yard area.
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He is a poacher of the highest order, scoring 44 goals in 99 total Napoli appearances, and 47 in 75 games with his previous side Ajax. Having Milik in that number nine role could ease the burden on United's strikers, and give them that ruthless edge in front of goal. It says a lot that United take just 6% of their shots inside the six-yard box, a total that leaves them in 15th place in the rankings - Manchester City on the other hand are in fourth on that list.
The Red Devils could do with someone like Milik who can sniff out half-chances and score the scruffy goals that Solskjaer has previously urged his current forwards to make more of.