Man Utd can sign perfect Rasmus Hojlund partner for free as exit puts INEOS on red alert

Manchester United have a golden opportunity to snag a bargain in their hunt for competition and support for Rasmus Hojlund this summer. A striker is reportedly among the club’s transfer priorities ahead of Anthony Martial’s departure, and an enticing free agent has just arrived on the market.

The Frenchman will depart Old Trafford after nine years once his contract expires at the end of the month, leaving Hojlund as United’s sole natural striker.

He was in the same position for most of his maiden season in England due to Martial’s continued injury issues that have plagued his career.

But United are thought to be determined to recruit a new partner to challenge Hojlund and support the £72million star’s development.

According to the Telegraph, INEOS want to sign a striker with Premier League experience rather than a goalscorer who may require time to adapt to English football.

Hojlund will likely remain United’s first-choice frontman next season after scoring a respectable 16 goals in a troublesome debut campaign.

And an ideal back-up option who offers tremendous value has recently emerged after his club confirmed his exit ahead of the transfer window.

Yesterday, Leicester City confirmed that Kelechi Iheanacho will join Marc Albrighton and Dennis Praet in leaving the club as free agents later this month.

Iheanacho joined the Foxes in a £25m deal from Manchester City in 2017 after netting 21 times and providing a further seven assists in 64 games for United’s rivals.

The 27-year-old scored 61 goals and registered 34 assists in 232 games for Leicester City, lifting the FA Cup and Community Shield in 2021.

He is an experienced international, earning 53 caps for Nigeria, and 42 of his career goals have come in 196 Premier League appearances.

Iheanacho wouldn’t arrive as a clear upgrade on what United currently have, but he has a track record of goals in the top flight and would serve as solid competition for Hojlund.

It would make little sense for the Red Devils to pursue another young striker, such as RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, given Hojlund’s presence.

An older, more experienced option who wouldn’t demand to start every game would be a better fit, and Iheanacho is of that mould.

Whether Iheanacho would be interested in a switch to Old Trafford after graduating from City’s academy remains to be seen, and he won’t be short of suitors.

But United could do much worse than throwing their hat in the ring for his signature, having already missed out on a bargain deal for Tosin Adarabioyo in a summer where FFP and PSR restrictions are rife.