Manchester United do need a striker in their ranks if Ighalo returns to China following his loan spell at Old Trafford. One of the names they are considering is Joshua King, whom they had tried to rope in on the last day of the January transfer window.
Sky Sports reveals that the player is wanted by a number of the top clubs of England, including the Red Devils and Chelsea. The Blues also need to strengthen their squad when the transfer window reopens, and United would have to outbid the London club in their pursuit of King.
King’s rise to prominence
King is not unknown to the United ranks as he spent a part of his youth career at the Manchester club. Although on paper, he was a member of the Manchester team till 2013, he never made an appearance for them and was sent on loan to different clubs during these years. Finally, King settled at Blackburn Rovers, and he played for the English team for the next two seasons, scoring three goals in 48 league matches.
The Norway international moved to A.F.C. Bournemouth in 2015 ahead of the club’s promotion to the Premier League. Under manager Eddie Howe, King’s performance improved a lot, and he became a regular for the side leading the attack. In his five seasons with the club, King has so far scored 46 goals in 154 league matches, establishing himself as a top-division striker.
What would King add to United?
The Norway international is a constant threat to the opposition inside the box. King oozes confidence on the field, and the physicality he possesses could be an asset for Man United. The ex-Blackburn man could be a target man for the Mancunians, and his partnership with Rashford could prove to be extremely effective. The supply line of Bruno Fernandes and Juan Mata could raise his overall game and King could be one of the most lethal strikers of the Premier League.
Should Man United go for him?
Many in the United ranks would argue that King is not the man to lead them to glory, and they should attempt to sign someone more prolific. However, we should remember that the injury to Rashford exposed the scarcity of capable forwards at United this season. As an interim measure, they had to sign Ighalo on loan from China.
This is where the Norwegian could prove to be of help to this team. King could provide adequate depth in the side, and Solskjær could also be tempted to use a two-man forward line at times to unsettle the oppositions. Overall, Joshua King could be a shrewd acquisition for Man United, and the board should not further delay the pursuit of the forward.
