It could be a tale of two emerging strikers when Manchester United get down to business against Brighton upon their return to Premier League action on Saturday afternoon (3pm). However, it will also be worth keeping at least one eye on the men trying to supply Rasmus Hojlund and Evan Ferguson.
Hojlund is, finally, ready to make his full debut for United after his impressive off-the-bench cameo vs Arsenal, and his presence should ease the burden on Marcus Rashford when it comes to goal-getting. Ferguson has, meanwhile, been thrust further onto the radar with his first top-flight treble against Newcastle.
Aged 20 and 18, Hojlund and Ferguson are sure to be big-name players in years to come, but they do already have expectations at their respective clubs and a responsibility to perform. While they are capable of opening things up for themselves, though, they are also reliant on the players behind them.
United have problems in that respect with question marks over Jadon Sancho and Antony right now. One remains unavailable for selection, while there is every chance Sancho will be left in the doldrums for a little longer after his astonishing spat with Erik ten Hag which was played out, publicly, via television and social media.
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Rashford and Argentina sensation Alejandro Garnacho are poised to flank Hojlund on Saturday afternoon. Ten Hag does not have too many other genuine options at his disposal at this juncture, despite the club splashing out close to £190million on three right wingers in the last two-and-a-half years alone.
But with Amad injured, Antony on leave and Sancho seemingly out of favour, there is nowhere else for Ten Hag to turn beyond Rashford and Garnacho. As menacing as those two might be, both prefer to operate from the left with the sacrifice almost-certain to fall upon Rashford as the more experienced campaigner.
United need to rework their attacking blueprint after the international break, while Brighton – by contrast – remain a well-oiled machine despite yet more big-money and high-profile departures. The way they have reacted to Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo leaving has been staggering.
Brighton’s success on the pitch is borne from an unparalleled structure behind the scenes. Mac Allister and Caicedo are not the first hidden gems they have scouted, signed and sold for profit. They won’t be the last.
Ferguson will, naturally, draw interest as he continues to lead their line with power, pace and precision. Whenever he does move on, you would expect the would-be figure to challenge all kinds of records, as long as he progresses at the same rate and this transfer market remains just as heightened.
Behind the hugely-talented Irishman, there are countless names who will be jotted down on shopping lists for the big boys – including United – and Kaoru Mitoma will be firmly on the radar himself. He ticks a lot of boxes for United given their attacking conundrum right now, even though there is one unmissable sticking point.
Mitoma has almost exclusively operated from the left-hand side favoured by Rashford, Garnacho and others, such as Sancho for that matter, during his Brighton career. That has resulted in 11 goals and 11 assists from his 45 matches donning blue and white stripes, but that does not mean he would not be able to thrive on the right.
The fleet-footed Japan international predominately features on the left because Brighton, similarly to United, tend to use inverted forwards with left-footed Solly March being first pick on the other side. Mitoma, though, does have all the necessary qualities to adapt, and managers like all options to be versatile.
After bringing in seven players this summer, United are already planning ahead for the next recruitment drive. With that, the club are noting down targets who will only have 12 months left to run on their contracts next summer and that is the exact position Mitoma – a clear threat to United next up – will find himself in.
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