Manchester United struggled to find a consistent source of goals during the 2023/24 season, and they have swiftly looked to address that issue in the summer transfer window.
In Joshua Zirkzee, United are getting a forward who has it all – the ability to lead the line, link up well with others and get the best out of those around him.
It’s hard to say whether Zirkzee will be a 20-goal-a-season striker, but if United play to his strengths, it might not matter.
The Dutchman’s knack of bringing those around him into play could lead to a scoring boom in the final third.
Here are the different ways United could line up with Zirkzee.
- As a lone striker
The simplest way to fit Zirkzee into this United XI is as a one-for-one replacement for Hojlund.
There is a strong argument behind this, at least. Hojlund’s main strength is his pace running in behind to create chances, but he seldom received the ball in those areas – partly because all of his teammates wanted to do the same thing, partly because only Bruno Fernandes seemed capable of feeding him the ball.
Stylistically, Zirkzee is a better fit for games in which United are expected to have more of the ball. With runners like Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho peeling away – Jadon Sancho is also back in the mix too after burying the hatchet with Erik ten Hag – Zirkzee won’t be short of teammates to link up with, while Fernandes’ direct threat should ensure he gets on the ball enough to make an impact.
As suggested, this will primarily work if Rashford and Garnacho hold up on their end of the deal. If the former returns to his show-stopping 2022/23 form in which he scored 30 goals, and the latter continues his rapid rate of development, then Ten Hag might land on a winning formula. Throw into the equation a successful reintegration of Sancho and who knows what could happen.
Possible lineups:
- 4-2-3-1 – Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee
- 4-3-3 – Garnacho, Zirkzee, Rashford
- 4-3-3 – Sancho, Zirkzee, Garnacho
There’s an extra tantalising tactical wrinkle beyond Zirkzee playing instead of Hojlund – Zirkzee playing with Hojlund.
Zirkzee’s skillset lends itself perfectly to starting alongside a more mobile striker capable of stretching play. Both are absolute units well above six-feet tall as well, giving them an obvious aerial advantage.
That is United heritage, after all. Two complementary strikers. No nonsense. Get it in the mixer. Bosh.
Possible lineups:
- 4-4-2 – Garnacho, Mainoo, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee, Hojlund
- 4-4-2 – Fernandes, Mainoo, McTominay, Rashford; Zirkzee, Hojlund.