The No. 1 Man United striker target explains his decision to join with a rival team.

The player himself has explained why Manchester United's top striker target decided to join with a direct rival. 

Man Utd's greatest vulnerability, according to Ruben Amorim, is the last third.

Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee, Antony, and Jadon Sancho are among United's crop of attackers who either don't perform well in the Premier League or haven't had any significant influence.

Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford have both performed better when wearing United jerseys, but Amorim criticised both players for their attitude and technique. 

As a result, Manchester United made Matheus Cunha their first big summer acquisition right away, and if they get their way, they will make Bryan Mbeumo their second arrival. 

Next season, United may start a completely different forward line in Amorim's preferred 3-4-2-1 configuration since a new starting striker is also desired.

Man Utd made Liam Delap, who was then with Ipswich Town, their main priority in the lead-up to the summer window opening. 

Delap, a 22-year-old player with Premier League experience, is a player for the present and the future. 

He would have also been a very affordable addition, with a release clause of £30 million. 

Delap eventually decided to go with Chelsea, though, with the Red Devils' demise thought to have been caused by United's lack of Champions League play.

A recent update from Talksport, which also featured an interview with Delap, has definitively revealed why United was passed on. 

After the Premier League season ended, [Delap] met with all interested clubs and informed Chelsea that he wanted to join just before the Europa Conference League Final," the report stated (one week after Man Utd lost to Tottenham in the Europa League final and missed out on UCL football).

Chelsea didn't need any celebrities, but Ipswich, who signed Delap from Manchester City in July 2024, brought in singer and minority owner Ed Sheeran to give their pitch some celebrity power. 

They could offer Delap Champions League football instead, which is important because Manchester United was unable to do so after losing to Spurs in the Europa League Final.

I had a little FaceTime with Ed, and it was nice to speak to him, but with this move, it was just Chelsea [on the calls]," Delap is then cited as saying in the article.

And playing in the Champions League was one of the reasons I moved here and took up football.

Which forward will Manchester United sign?

Man Utd has turned its attention back to Viktor Gyokeres, who, in contrast to Delap, is open to joining even though United doesn't play in the UCL. 

Gyokeres, however, has made Arsenal his top target, and the Gunners have reduced their own striker hunt to just Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig). 

Man Utd won't have a chance to sign Gyokeres unless Arsenal completes a deal for Sesko.

At Old Trafford, Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt is also highly regarded. Clubs have been charged a staggering €100 million by Frankfurt so far. 

Moise Kean of Fiorentina is a less expensive choice; according to Gazzetta dello Sport, he is now coveted at Old Trafford.