Manchester United is casting a wide net for an experienced number nine this summer, and the list of names is a little surprising. According to journalist Ben Jacobs, the club has Danny Welbeck, Ivan Toney, and Igor Thiago on its radar as manager Michael Carrick looks for real competition behind Benjamin Sesko.
Welbeck is the one that jumps out. The 35-year-old is coming off a season where he scored 13 goals in 37 Premier League games for Brighton. He’s been linked with a return to United before, but nothing ever materialized. At this stage in his career, you’d have to wonder if he’s being targeted as a short-term rotation piece or as more of a veteran presence in the locker room. Either way, it’s a name that generates instant reaction among fans who remember his early years at the club.
Toney and Thiago Bring Different Profiles
Ivan Toney is currently at the World Cup, but his club situation is complicated. He moved to Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League in 2024 after leaving Brentford, and his numbers have been absurd: 23 goals in 30 league games his first season, then 32 goals in 32 games this past season. That kind of production anywhere is hard to ignore. A return to the Premier League for Champions League football at Old Trafford might be tempting if the money works for both sides.
Igor Thiago is the younger option. The 24-year-old Brazilian scored 25 goals across all competitions in 2025-26. He’s still relatively unproven at the absolute highest level, but his physical tools and finishing ability are clear. United has scouted him for a while now.
What United Actually Needs
Carrick is trying to build a squad that can push Arsenal in the Premier League and make noise in the Champions League. That means Sesko needs genuine competition, not just a backup who sits on the bench. Welbeck provides experience and a known commodity in the league. Toney offers proven scoring and a physical style that could fit. Thiago brings upside and a different skill set.
The club has not confirmed any of these names as serious targets yet. But with the summer window open and the World Cup going on, expect these rumors to pick up fast. United’s striker search is one of the biggest storylines of the offseason, and it’s not going away anytime soon.
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