Manchester United in talks to sign Leipzig forward Giovanna Hoffmann | OneFootball

Manchester United are reportedly in talks to sign the Germany international Giovanna Hoffmann from RB Leipzig.

The addition of the 26-year-old forward, who has scored three times in a dozen appearances for Germany, would bring further variety to Marc Skinner’s forward options following the arrival of left-sided attacker Fridolina Rolfö last week.

A move to England would mark Hoffmann’s first foray beyond her native country, the striker having started her career with Frauen-Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, for whom she scored 23 goals in 57 appearances, before moving to SC Freiburg in 2020.

Hoffmann joined Leipzig last summer, with Viola Odebrecht, the club’s head of women’s and girls’ football, hailing her offensive prowess and strength of character.

What qualities would Giovanna Hoffmann bring to Manchester United?

“She has a strong presence and can be dangerous both at the top of the attack and on the wings, thanks to her speed,” said Odebrecht.

“Her good finishing is an added advantage. I am convinced that she will also help us off the pitch with her strong-minded personality.”

Hoffmann, whose move to Leipzig was swiftly followed by an international call-up, went on to score 11 goals in 21 appearances for her new club.

The forward underlined her creative threat by setting up the third goal in Germany’s 4-3 friendly win over England at Wembley last October, and scored a brace in a 6-1 Nations League win against Scotland earlier this year.

Manchester United finished third in the Women’s Super League last term, 16 points adrift of winners Chelsea and four behind second-placed Arsenal.

United were comfortably outscored by both those sides, posting a return of just 41 goals to Chelsea’s 56 and Arsenal’s 62, a shortfall that Hoffmann’s signing would be expected to help address.

Her arrival would add further experience to a United side already bolstered by the summer addition of the Sweden internationals Rolfö, the highly decorated 31-year-old who recently left Barcelona, and Julia Zigiotti Olme from Bayern Munich.

United secured Champions League qualification with a game to spare last season, and Skinner immediately identified the need to add depth to his squad.

The promise of European competition was a significant factor in the decision of Rolfö, a two-time Champions League winner, to join the club, and should prove a similarly strong selling point for Skinner in rumoured negotiations with Hoffman.

“The WSL is probably the strongest league in the world right now, so that was a big part of the appeal of coming here, as well as the chance to help the team establish itself in the Champions League,” she said.

The arrival of Hoffmann, who has a year remaining on her contract, would mark another positive step in that direction for United.