August 22nd 2024.
Manchester United have been advised to consider making another purchase in the transfer market by former England midfielder Danny Murphy. According to Murphy, the addition of Dutch talent Joshua Zirkzee is not enough to solve the team's scoring woes and he believes a player like Ivan Toney would be a valuable asset to the squad.
Zirkzee, who joined United from Bologna for a whopping £36.5m last month, made a strong debut for the team by scoring a late winner against Fulham on the opening day of the season. However, Murphy argues that the 20-year-old is not a traditional center forward and would be better suited as an attacking midfielder or out wide.
Despite Zirkzee's potential, Murphy believes United still need a proven and experienced striker like Toney, who is currently valued at around £50m. The Brentford forward has been left out of the club's Premier League opener and is expected to leave in the near future, with interest also coming from Saudi Arabia.
Murphy emphasizes that Toney's scoring record of 72 goals in 141 appearances for Brentford, including 20 goals in the Premier League last season, speaks for itself. He also points out that the 28-year-old has already proven himself on the international stage, having been included in the England squad for Euro 2024 and making an impact off the bench.
In Murphy's view, United's top four prospects will be greatly improved with the addition of Toney or a similar striker. He believes that relying solely on young talent like Zirkzee or Rasmus Hojlund, who is not yet ready to be a consistent goalscorer in the Premier League, will not be enough to secure a Champions League spot.
United have already made four signings this summer, including Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, and Noussair Mazraoui. However, Murphy believes that another investment is necessary for the team to secure a spot in the top four. United will face a tough challenge in their next Premier League match against Brighton, who impressed with a 3-0 win over Everton on the opening weekend.
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