Not Victor Osimhen – Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag has found perfect Kylian Mbappe alternative at fraction of price

Manchester United wants to acquire a new striker this summer. Erik ten Hag understands that his team needs a better goalscorer than Wout Weghorst if Old Trafford’s glory days are to be restored. While Kylian Mbappe has been connected, Randal Kolo Muani would be a cheaper option at a time when Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani is emerging as the favorite to unseat the Glazers.

Cheaper. It was not cheap.

That’s what Muani would be, with the 24-year-old apparently on United’s radar as they look for a new striker before the season ends.

The Red Devils are well aware that they require a prolific goal scorer. Manchester City has Erling Haaland, and the Red Devils are aware that they need their own version of the Norway international in the attacking third.

Mbappe has been connected to Qatar’s desire in buying United and toppling the Glazers after 18 contentious years.

Yet, there is a strong belief that if the France international were to leave PSG, Real Madrid would be his top choice.

On Wednesday, it was revealed that United was interested in Muani. Looking at the numbers, it’s easy to see why.

This season, the player has 11 goals and 10 assists in 23 Bundesliga games for Eintracht Frankfurt.

He’s also scored five goals in the Champions League and DFB-Pokal, cementing his position as one of the world’s top young forwards.

According to reports, United would have to pay roughly £106 million to sign the France international, who just represented his country at the World Cup in Qatar.

That would make him the most expensive signing in Manchester United history, surpassing the £89 million paid for Paul Pogba in 2016.

Yet, it would be significantly less expensive than what United would have to pay to sign Mbappe.

According to Transfermarkt, the PSG star is worth roughly £180 million – a figure that even the world’s wealthiest would have to pay.

PSG may possibly expect more than that, given that they paid £166 million to sign him from Monaco in 2017.

United has previously been connected with Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.

And who they end up signing remains to be seen, with Ten Hag determined to bolster his frontline this summer.

Nevertheless, ESPN expert Craig Burley recently criticized Weghorst, claiming he isn’t talented enough for the club.

“I’m not being nasty to Wout Weghorst – I mean, if you want me to be,” he explained.

“But the boy’s had an opportunity and he’s got in there, and it’s a bit like [Odion] Ighalo when he came on loan from China.

“I’m sure when he called him, he thought it was a joke.

“It’s just one of those instances where the Ronaldo situation was horrific – dealt with excellently, by the way, by club and management – and they had to get somebody in.

“He [Ten Hag] knows him, but in that United side, he’s like a fish out of the sea.”

Weghorst is expected to start when United takes on Real Betis in the Europa League on Thursday (5.45pm).

The Red Devils lead the first leg 4-1 after a convincing win at Old Trafford last week.