The Sun has recently revealed that Manchester United are eyeing a move for Red Bull Salzburg striker Patson Daka this summer. It is believed that the Red Devils would have to make a bid in excess of £20m to land the Zambian marksman, but could face competition from Liverpool as well as a few other big clubs in pursuit of the player (via The Sun).
Daka’s Brilliant Form At The Red Bull Arena Last Season
The 21-year-old enjoyed the most productive campaign of his career at Salzburg after he put in a series of eye-catching performances as the central striker of Jesse Marsch’s side. Daka featured in 45 matches for the Austrian outfit last season, scoring 27 goals and providing 12 assists in all competitions.
The Chingola-born prospect impressed a lot of people with his impressive displays in Europe as he averaged 2.0 shots, 0.9 key passes and 0.5 dribbles per game in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. However, he needs to be tidier with his ball-distribution as evident from his pass completion rate of 70% in both those competitions (stats via whoscored).
Daka managed to score a brace versus Liverpool in a pre-season friendly match earlier this month which goes to show that he might be up for the challenge to go up against some of the best centre-backs in the world. The early signs have been quite promising, so the 18-time Zambia international could be in for a very bright future in European football.
What Does The Zambian Striker Offer On The Pitch?
Daka boasts electric pace and can run the channels quite well using his quickness and agility up top. He works incredibly hard for his side and doesn’t give the opposition defenders a moment’s rest when chasing them down off the ball. The Salzburg whizkid has mainly been deployed as a centre-forward, but can also fill in as a right-sided wide player if needed.
The Zambian youngster has transformed himself into a lethal finisher in the attacking third and can even set-up his teammates when they are in a better position inside the opponent’s penalty box. However, he is still quite raw and would need time to get himself accustomed to the Premier League if the Red Devils can find a way to bring him to Old Trafford this summer.
Is Daka The Right Choice For Man United?
Man United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has currently got plenty of striking options as the likes of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Odion Ighalo are all vying for a place in his first-team. Hence, there is no immediate need for the Mancunian giants to bring in another forward unless they are willing to cash in on one of their current assets.
It seems like paying over £20m to recruit Daka will be a luxury move for the Red Devils. However, if Solskjaer has faith in getting the best out of him, then he should consider letting Igholo leave in this off-season. All in all, he will be a decent choice for Man United if they are successful in convincing the Salzburg ace to make a switch to the Theatre of Dreams before the transfer window slams shut later this year.
