Manchester United president Reuben Amorim They recorded their second successive win in the Europa League last night, beating Viktoria Plzeň 2-1, but once again, the team put in a huge effort to get the win.
The Red Devils fell a goal down just minutes into the second half after Andrej Onana's late pass was capitalized on, giving Matej Vydra an open goal to put the hosts ahead.
However, Rasmus Hoglund saved the day, scoring two goals from the bench, after being ruled out of the match in the Czech Republic.
Add summer Joshua Zirkzee once again Failure to influence and benefit From his debut, he was substituted after the hour, and his subsequent display put his United career in jeopardy.
He just scored Three times in 22 matches For the Red Devils, they look way off the pace and don't deserve anywhere near A fee of £36.5 million was paid For his signature.
As a result, other options have been targeted recently, with Amorim clearly not happy with the attacking production, which could bring an early end to the Dutchman's England career.
United are looking for a new striker
Rumors have swirled around several names of strikers who could move to Old Trafford, but so far, no player looks close to moving to the North West.
Alexander Isaac, Dusan Vlahovic and Victor Geukeris They are just three players who have been touted for transfers recently, but they are not the only ones.
Brighton striker Joao Pedro He was Linked with a move to United Earlier this week, he was named in a report by UOL as one of two Premier League sides to register a move for the Brazil international.
He has made a great start to the ongoing campaign, He scored four and had three assists In his first nine games, he also caught the eye of Liverpool in the process.
There is no mention of any potential price for the 23-year-old, but his versatility and ability to play as a lone striker or as a number 10 would make him a perfect fit in Amorim's 3-4-2-1 system.
Pedro has proven he can be the main man in a Premier League side, making him a viable option for a new coach ahead of January, with comparisons to one of the Premier League's leading talents only highlighting what a fantastic addition he will be.
Why could Pedro end Zirkzee's career with United?
As mentioned earlier, Zirkzee has not been able to make the impact he envisioned when transferring his significant funds, and is struggling to make his mark under Erik ten Hag And now Amorim.
The fast-paced nature of the English Premier League does not seem to suit the 23-year-old, but he does not have the characteristics of a traditional Amorim striker – he lacks the work rate and play up front. From the stadium.
Hoglund's form will only reduce his playing time, while Pedro's move will greatly impact his ability to get the minutes he desires.
When delving into the Brighton player's stats from the current season, he has outperformed the former Bologna star in various areas – leading to Comparisons from FBref To Liverpool Mohamed Salah.
It may seem like a far-fetched resemblance given their different roles, but Pedro has outperformed El Masry in several key attacking areas in recent months.
Brazilian “sorcerer“, as commentator Kevin Hatchard called it, has scored fewer goals and assists this season, but has managed to achieve… Better goal per shot on goal rate – Making him a more effective option based on his chances in front of goal.
How does Joao Pedro compare to Mohamed Salah in the English Premier League (2024/25) |
||
---|---|---|
Statistics (per 90) |
Pedro |
Salah |
Games played |
9 |
14 |
Goals and assists |
7 |
21 |
Goals for every shot on goal |
0.6 |
0.4 |
Progressive passes |
4 |
3.7 |
Passing accuracy |
74% |
72% |
Successful dribbles |
1.7 |
1.6 |
Antennas won |
1.9 |
0.2 |
Won tackles |
1.1 |
0.6 |
Statistics via FBref |
He may be primarily a centre-forward, but he has registered more advanced passes per 90 than superstar Arne Slott, showing his versatility in attacking areas, making him capable of improving the scoring numbers of those around him.
More importantly, the Seagulls striker did too He won 1.1 tackles per 90demonstrating his ability to get off the ball, making him the perfect choice for the 39-year-old United manager.
Any deal for Pedro would undoubtedly be another huge sum to be paid through the current hierarchy, but it is clear what he would bring to the current first team, providing an immediate promotion, with the potential for improvement too.
However, the Red Devils will face a huge task in convincing him to move to Old Trafford, rather than Anfield, if they decide to pursue a move for the 23-year-old in January.