Manchester United Eye Sorloth as Potential Striker Solution
Manchester United have been handed the chance to bring Erling Haaland’s close friend Alexander Sorloth back to the Premier League – and across the city to Manchester – with intermediaries putting the Atletico Madrid striker on the table before Tuesday’s deadline.
United are scouring the market for another centre-forward after allowing Joshua Zirkzee to join Fiorentina, leaving Michael Carrick and the recruitment team weighing up a short list rather than rushing into a panic buy. Into that mix steps Sorloth, a name now firmly under consideration, according to TEAMtalk sources.
The 30-year-old Norway international is open to leaving Atletico this summer. A return to England appeals. He knows the league from his time at Crystal Palace, and the idea of a second crack at the Premier League – this time at Old Trafford – is one he would entertain.
United’s brief is clear. If they add another striker, it must be someone who offers a genuine central presence and a proper alternative to Benjamin Sesko, not just another body for the bench. Sorloth ticks those boxes: a big, physical No.9 with aerial threat, strong hold-up play and a track record across Europe.
He has hit 175 career goals in 475 matches, and his form since moving to Atletico has not gone unnoticed. For United, that blend of experience, profile and familiarity with English football makes him an attractive, if opportunistic, option.
Atletico, though, have their own moving parts to manage. They are open to Sorloth’s departure, but only if they secure a suitable replacement. The plan in Madrid is to keep Julian Alvarez, yet they still want another striker in the door. Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus and former Lille forward Jonathan David are among the names being actively considered.
The situation becomes even more tangled in Italy. Juventus are exploring a deal involving David, with Sorloth and Nico Gonzalez potentially folded into an exchange. Those talks are proving increasingly complex, and every new twist there affects how free Atletico are to negotiate Sorloth’s future.
United, for their part, are not just watching from afar. TEAMtalk can confirm that Jonathan David has also been offered to Carrick’s side, who are now weighing up whether the Canadian could be another solution for their attacking puzzle.
Mateta, Matanovic and the younger bracket
Sorloth is not the only name on United’s radar.
As previously revealed, the club have held conversations with Crystal Palace about Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr, although neither deal is straightforward. Financial terms, squad roles and Palace’s own plans all complicate those discussions.
United have also cast the net towards younger, developing forwards. Freiburg’s Igor Matanovic, Hoffenheim’s Fisnik Asllani and RB Leipzig’s Conrad Harder have all been discussed internally as potential longer-term projects rather than immediate starters.
Yet as the window ticks into its final days, Sorloth stands out as one of the more experienced, plug-and-play options. His openness to a Premier League return, and specifically to England at this stage of his career, gives this story a different edge.
Then there is the subplot that will write its own headlines: Sorloth’s close relationship with Manchester City star Erling Haaland. The prospect of the two Norway internationals sharing a city – but split by a fierce rivalry – adds an extra layer to any potential move.
For United, the message from inside the club is consistent. They will only move if the forward truly complements Sesko and elevates the frontline. If the right profile does not materialise, there is a real chance they walk away and end the window without a new striker.
In a market full of noise, that stance might be the boldest call of all.
