“The strikers we have are not what we need. We need attackers like Wayne Rooney and Christiano Ronaldo. The only player that plays like them are in Italy. I recommended him to the staffs a d they all loved him immediately, which means we are going to sign him”- Man Utd ‘step up’ bid to sign January transfer target after ‘personal recommendation from Ruud van Nistelrooy’

Manchester United are reportedly stepping up their pursuit of a top striker, following a recommendation from assistant manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Van Nistelrooy, 48, who returned to the club earlier this summer after being initially considered as a replacement for Erik ten Hag, has been working closely with forwards Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee. However, with the departure of Anthony Martial during the summer, concerns have emerged about United’s attacking depth.

In response, Erik ten Hag has experimented by using captain Bruno Fernandes in a false nine role as he searches for the ideal attacking balance. Despite signing five players during the summer—Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Ugarte, Noussair Mazraoui, and Zirkzee—strengthening the forward line remains a pressing issue.

According to *Football Transfers*, United have made significant strides in pursuing Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, with van Nistelrooy pushing for the move. Vlahovic, who was on Arsenal’s radar before joining Juventus in January 2022, was also linked to Manchester United last year.

Although United ultimately chose to sign Hojlund, bolstering their offensive options remains a key priority. Vlahovic, 24, has had a strong start to the season, netting two goals in three matches under Juventus’ new manager, Thiago Motta. The Serbian international, who has 30 caps for his national team, has earned a solid reputation in European football, especially during his time at Fiorentina.

Despite expressing contentment at Juventus, with two years left on his contract, Vlahovic’s situation may evolve if United intensify their interest. In December 2023, he mentioned to the Italian press, “I still have two and a half years on my contract. There’s no rush, but Giuntoli and my agent are in discussions. I’m very happy here.”

In a notable parallel, his former Juventus teammate Federico Chiesa made a Premier League switch earlier this summer, joining Liverpool.