Following a thoroughly disappointing 2024/2025 season, wherein they finished 15th in the Premier League and lost the UEFA Europa League Final to Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United need to undergo a significant squad upheaval for the upcoming season.
With the Manchester United transfer of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo finalised, Ruben Amorims next target is recruitment in the striker position.
Although talented, Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee have not been able to assert themselves in the role demanded by the Portuguese manager.
Owing to their lack of consistency, the Red Devils are in the market for an upgrade.
RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Šeško and Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta are two contenders for the position.
But who best fits Ruben Amorim tactics for the 2025/2026 Premier League season?
We will find out in this scout report and player analysis, where we examine Benjamin Šeško and Jean-Philippe Mateta playing styles and compare them with those of Man United strikers Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Højlund.
How Do Manchester United Strikers Play?
In the 2024/2025 EPL season, Manchester United deployed Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Højlund as strikers on numerous occasions.
Lets look at how these two interpreted the position under Ruben Amorim style of play.
Man United Strikers In Attacking Phase – Receiving To Feet
Under Ruben Amorim formation at Man United, they operate in a 3-4-3, which means that they play with just two midfielders in the middle (central zone and half-space).
Thus, the striker dropping to link play helps them progress.
It was common to see both Højlund and Zirkzee combining with midfielders in the midfield and the attacking thirds.
Here, we can see Højlund dropping into the midfield third to combine with a midfielder.
He pulls the opponents centre-back out of position, which opens space in behind for a runner.
The midfielder
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