Manchester United is reportedly set to sign a forward on a free transfer next summer as a backup, with a weekly wage of £50,000! Decision revealed after missing out on Semenyo

Manchester United's forward Joshua Zirkzee is increasingly likely to leave, with Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirming that Serie A club Roma has officially submitted a request to sign Zirkzee from Manchester United. If Zirkzee departs, United may need to bring in a backup striker, and a free French Ligue 1 player has been linked with the move.

Romano stated: "Manchester United have confirmed they have received an official offer from Roma regarding Zirkzee. This is a loan deal with an obligation to buy, and United have verified through intermediaries that they indeed received this proposal from Roma. As I told everyone before Christmas, Manchester United are proceeding at their own pace."

Previously, Manchester United competed with Manchester City for Bournemouth's Ghanaian winger Antoine Semenyo, who has a £65 million release clause, but the player chose Manchester City. This suggests the Red Devils may not sign a forward in the January window, with Ruben Amorim focusing on securing a midfield reinforcement.

The signing of a forward by Manchester United might be postponed until next summer, with reports revealing that a Malian striker has already agreed to join. "Africa Foot" reports that United are engaged in serious negotiations with Lassine Sinayoko and his agent team.

The 26-year-old Sinayoko plays for French Ligue 1 club Auxerre and will be out of contract at the end of this season, allowing Manchester United to sign him on a free transfer. According to Africa Foot, discussions are progressing smoothly, with United aiming to finalize the agreement in January to secure him on a free transfer when his contract expires in June 2026.

It is said that Manchester United are negotiating a contract worth €3 million (approximately £2.6 million), equivalent to a weekly wage of £50,000, with Sinayoko. Talks are ongoing to reach a final agreement. Currently, Sinayoko is representing Mali in the Africa Cup of Nations, and if United sign him, their contingent of African players will grow even stronger.

Sinayoko is a versatile forward who can play as a central striker as well as on both wings. However, his goal-scoring record is modest, with 25 goals in 159 appearances for Auxerre, along with 23 assists. This season, he has played 16 Ligue 1 matches, scoring 6 goals and providing 2 assists. According to Germany's Transfermarkt, his current market value is around €7 million.

There have been no more reliable sources reporting any connection between Manchester United and Sinayoko, so this rumor can be taken as a story, likely a tactic by the agent to raise the price. Recently, United have been linked with another forward, which has been confirmed by Romano: Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig is a scouting target for both United and Tottenham.

“I’ve heard several Premier League clubs are watching this young player,” Romano said. “He’s currently performing very well at RB Leipzig and is also representing Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations. He’s a highly talented winger with excellent dribbling skills and great speed. He’s a very promising player with huge potential, truly an exciting prospect. So I want to tell you, it’s not just Manchester United and Tottenham monitoring him, but both clubs continue to keep a close eye.”

Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany reported that RB Leipzig are asking for over £87 million for Diomande. However, it must be emphasized that the 19-year-old left winger is considered a player with potential for the future rather than an immediately decisive match-winner. This season, he has scored 6 goals and provided 3 assists in 14 Bundesliga appearances.

David Ornstein, a respected transfer expert from The Athletic, stated that after being rejected by Semenyo, Manchester United are unlikely to pursue another forward signing in the January window, but may reconsider this position in future transfer windows.

Ornstein explained in detail: “Manchester United’s pursuit of Semenyo was because it was a sudden opportunity on the transfer market. They wanted to sign him, but reinforcing this position is not a priority. This means United will not look for other winger options in the January or next summer window, but I do believe that at some point in the future, Manchester United plan to strengthen this area. Because players like Rashford might make a permanent move after their loan at Barcelona ends, and the same goes for Sancho, so there is definitely a need to fill that winger spot.”