Dusan Vlahovic opportunity too good for Man United to ignore | OneFootball

Signing a capable striking alternative to Benjamin Sesko could be a smart move by Manchester United.

As good a player as Joshua Zirkzee is, he is not the kind of striker this United team needs. The Dutchman is more of a playmaker than the goal poacher this team so desperately craves.

With him heavily linked with a move away, it would be best to sell him and replace him with a proper goal poacher, one who could push Sesko to his limits.

Looking at the rumour mill, there is talk of the Red Devils moving for an experienced striker, such as Robert Lewandowski or Danny Welbeck, to share the striking workload.

Now, while the argument that either of the two would serve as a perfect mentor for Sesko holds some weight, do United really need a mentor for the Slovenian hitman?

This team needs someone who can offer serious competition for Sesko—someone who would keep the summer 2025 signing on his toes. They do not need a Wout Weghorst-type short-term solution, which is precisely what Lewandowski or Welbeck, both in the twilight of their careers, would be.

Dusan Vlahovic is who Man United need to rival Sesko

They need to sign someone they hoped Joshua Zirkzee would be, and that player is certainly Dusan Vlahovic.

Vlahovic is a classic striker with power, aerial ability and back-to-goal play. He offers what Zirkzee ideally provides: he can press, receive the ball and link play with decent hold-up play, but crucially, he is a goal magnet, great at burying even a sniff of a chance.

His Juventus numbers are not eye-catching, but you have to consider the off-field drama in Turin. For most of his time with the Old Lady, there have been issues surrounding his contract, and at times, he has been told he is available for sale. In 19 games last season, he still managed to score seven goals.

In a new environment, Vlahovic could tap back into his Fiorentina goalscoring form; in his last 21 league games before joining Juve, he scored an impressive 17 goals.

He is one striker United should surely take a gamble on.

Perfect opportunity

He fits their transfer strategy: he is still only 26 and, interestingly, he is available on a free transfer.

United are among a clutch of top European sides, including Bayern Munich, reportedly keen on snapping him up. INEOS should do everything in their power to get the Serbian on board.

A striking department of Sesko and Vlahovic would be too hot to handle. Either one in the starting line-up will give United’s opponents sleepless nights.

Featured image Francois Nel via Getty Images

online polls

The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social