Manchester United’s hunt for attacking depth just got a little more interesting. Levante forward Etta Eyong now has a release clause set at €20 million, down from the original €30 million. That’s according to journalist Ben Jacobs, who reported the change took effect July 1 after a contractual amendment with the Spanish club.
Eyong, 22, has been on United’s radar for a while. The Cameroonian winger/striker moved from Villarreal to Levante in September 2025 on a four-year deal, and he wasted no time making an impression. Last season in La Liga, he put up seven goals and four assists in 33 appearances. Not jaw-dropping numbers, but for a guy still adjusting to top-flight regular minutes, it’s the kind of production that gets clubs sniffing around.
Why United needs another forward
Benjamin Sesko had a strong first season in England after his big-money move from RB Leipzig. He scored 11 Premier League goals, and no one in the league scored more than him in the second half of the season. That’s good. But behind him? It gets thin.
Joshua Zirkzee struggled for playing time in 2025-26 under both Ruben Amorim and interim manager Michael Carrick. There’s been chatter about a return to Turkey for the Dutchman, with AC Milan, Juventus and AS Roma all reportedly interested. If Zirkzee leaves, United basically has Sesko and maybe a kid from the academy. That’s not enough for a club trying to get back into the Champions League conversation.
Eyong isn’t a finished product. He’s fast, direct, and comfortable cutting in from the left. But he’s still raw. The release clause at €20 million makes him a low-risk gamble. Jacobs also noted that Eyong is prioritizing a move to England. That matters. Players who want to be in the Premier League tend to adjust faster than guys who are dragged there by a bigger paycheck.
Barcelona cooled off. United might not.
Barcelona had been mentioned as a potential suitor, but reports suggest they don’t see Eyong as a priority. That leaves room for United — or anyone else with €20 million and a need for a young attacker — to make a move. The club hasn’t confirmed anything publicly, but the timing lines up with United’s usual summer business pattern: identify a value target, let leverage build, then strike late in the window.
Whether United actually pulls the trigger depends on a few things. How much money is left after the midfield rebuild. Whether Zirkzee stays or goes. And whether the scouting staff sees Eyong as a guy who can contribute immediately or a project for the future. At €20 million, he’s cheap enough to be both.
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