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5 players Manchester United could target this summer

By Liam Bekker

Manchester United's French midfielder Paul Pogba (L) shakes hands with Manchester United's Norwegian manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (R) on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Cardiff City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on May 12, 2019. - Cardiff won the game 2-0. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)
Manchester United's French midfielder Paul Pogba (L) shakes hands with Manchester United's Norwegian manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (R) on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Cardiff City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on May 12, 2019. - Cardiff won the game 2-0. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Lyon’s French forward Moussa Dembele gestures after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Bordeaux (FCGB) and Lyon (OL) on April 26, 2019 at the Matmut Atlantique stadium in Bordeaux, southwestern France. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP) (Photo credit should read NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP/Getty Images)
Lyon’s French forward Moussa Dembele gestures after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Bordeaux (FCGB) and Lyon (OL) on April 26, 2019 at the Matmut Atlantique stadium in Bordeaux, southwestern France. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP) (Photo credit should read NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP/Getty Images) /

Moussa Dembele

Not since the departure of Robin van Persie in 2015 have United had a prolific and reliable striker. Wayne Rooney, the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, left two years later but by that stage had been converted into a midfielder and Zlatan Ibrahimovic excelled only for a season before being crippled by injury.

The club responded by signing Romelu Lukaku for a reported initial fee of £75 million ($95 million) but the Belgian has failed to live up to his price tag and speculation is rife that he could join Italian side Inter in the summer.

Regardless of whether or not the former Everton striker departs, United will be in the market for a new striker. One player they should be looking at is Lyon’s Moussa Dembele who enjoyed a stellar debut season in his native France, scoring 20 goals across all competitions.

Related Story. 5 players Liverpool could target in the summer. light

The 22-year-old has a proven track record for finding the back of the net. During his formative years with Fulham, he set the then-record for the most goals in a Championship season by a teenager before moving to Celtic where he scored over 50 goals in his two-and-a-bit seasons with the club.

Apart from his goal scoring prowess, the Frenchman is also better suited to the style of soccer United want to play. Where Lukaku relies on power and his physical presence, Dembele is blessed with pace and a greater degree of control on the ball. This would see him link up to greater effect with compatriots Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba and allow them to excel in their own attacking roles.

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