Michael Carrick’s first real summer at the wheel of Manchester United is starting to take shape. And it’s becoming clearer by the day that a new center-forward is part of the plan. According to RTI Esporte, United have been tracking Brentford striker Igor Thiago — and they’re not alone. Arsenal, the reigning Premier League champions, are also in the mix.
Thiago just put together a monster season. Twenty-two goals in 38 league appearances. The kind of campaign that forces people to stop calling you a promising prospect and start calling you one of the division’s top No. 9s. He’s physical, direct, and comfortable inside the box. More importantly, he’s already proven he can do it in English football. That matters a lot for a club that’s been burned by forwards who needed a full season just to adjust.
Why United need another striker
Benjamin Šeško is expected to be the guy leading the line for United next season. But one striker over 50-plus games? That’s a gamble. Especially when the alternative options are thinning out.
Rasmus Hojlund has already made his loan move to Napoli permanent. ESPN confirmed that deal went through. Joshua Zirkzee’s situation is shaky too — United are reportedly open to letting him leave if the right offer comes in. That leaves Carrick with Šeško and not much else in terms of a reliable backup. If United wants to change tactics depending on the opponent, they need a different kind of striker on the bench. Thiago fits that profile.
The Arsenal problem
Here’s where it gets complicated. Arsenal is also looking to add firepower up top. Yahoo Sports reported that both clubs have entered the conversation for Thiago. That’s a problem for United, because Brentford isn’t going to sell cheap. Especially not to a direct rival. Thiago is under a long-term deal, and reports have pegged his asking price around £77 million. That’s a serious number, even for a proven Premier League scorer.
United’s interest is still described as being at the monitoring stage. But if Carrick wants a powerful, ready-now option who can support Šeško and give him rest when needed, Thiago might be the most logical name on the list. The question is whether they can win a bidding war against the league’s best team.
Leave a Comment