Man Utd’s €25m striker solution with Messi-like numbers

Robin Bairner

• 15 Jun 2023 08:15 BST
• 4 min read

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag finds himself in a difficult spot, with no new signings completed in the middle of June.

He had previously indicated that he wanted the bulk of his business done by the time pre-season begins. With that now less than two weeks away for the club’s non-international players, this looks a scant prospect.

The stalled takeover deal has caused immense frustration at Old Trafford, with the type of funds required to sign the calibre of players that Ten Hag wants simply unavailable.

The manager has started to look at leftfield options, such as Leeds defender Robin Koch, but one option in attack has emerged that could be genuinely attractive as Ten Hag seeks a centre-forward.

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L’Equipe has revealed that Atletico Madrid attacker Antoine Griezmann has an active release clause of just €25 million this summer.

At 32 years old, the World Cup winner is not a long-term solution for the Red Devils, but he could provide a welcome bridge between this season and next with regards to the No.9 role before moving into or supplementing a different area of the attack thereafter.

It’s true that he’s not the pure centre forward that the manager might be looking for, but given the numbers that he is still producing, that might be a sacrifice that Ten Hag feels is worthwhile given his bargain price.

In 2022/23, Griezmann posted 15 goals and 17 assists in LaLiga – only PSG’s Lionel Messi got above 15 in each of those respective categories in Europe’s top-five leagues otherwise. Seven of those goals and seven of those assists came in his 17 games playing as a centre forward.

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Griezmann fits Ten Hag's style

Using the career advice tool of data analytics experts SciSports, Man Utd come out sixth equal when alternative destinations for Griezmann are questioned. Aston Villa and Brighton are the Premier League more suited to him, they believe, because of the star status he would have in those squads. Nevertheless, he fits the playing style of Man Utd perfectly, with the biggest drawback over a possible move to Old Trafford the fact that he would have to fit into a very different formation to the one that is used by Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid.

Atleti have typically used a 3-5-2 this season whereas Man Utd play in a 4-2-3-1. This is unlikely to be a significant hurdle, though, given that Griezmann has played in that system regularly during his career, including with the national team.

With the takeover thwarting Man Utd’s hopes of landing a Victor Osimhen or a Harry Kane, Ten Hag might be well advised to start looking at an alternative such as Griezmann, who is both cheap and proven quality.