Manchester United’s late-window hunt for a centre-forward has taken a fresh twist, with Alexander Sorloth emerging as a genuine option from Atletico Madrid.
With Carlos Baleba already through the door from Brighton in a £70million deal, the focus at Old Trafford has sharpened on two positions before Tuesday’s deadline: a backup No 9 and a left-back to push Luke Shaw. Michael Carrick wants cover and competition at the top of the pitch after Joshua Zirkzee’s situation shifted dramatically.
Zirkzee, signed to be the alternative to Benjamin Sesko, is now edging towards the exit. Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reports that the Dutchman has given the green light to a return to Serie A with Fiorentina. The Florence club have gone as far as sending United a loan proposal that includes an option to buy next summer, a deal that would open up a sizeable gap in Carrick’s forward line.
United have already started working through the shortlist. Freiburg striker Igor Matanovic has been sounded out. So has Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, who is open to a move away from Selhurst Park. Both fit the brief: physical, penalty-box forwards who can play as orthodox No 9s and ease the load on Sesko.
Now a different kind of opportunity has landed on the table.
Sorloth offered to United
According to TEAMtalk, intermediaries have offered United the chance to sign Alexander Sorloth from Atletico. At 6ft 5in, the Norwegian is the kind of towering focal point United have lacked since the days of a peak Zlatan Ibrahimovic-style presence. Across his senior career, Sorloth has scored 175 goals in 475 appearances, a record that underlines his consistency across several leagues and clubs.
Crucially for United’s recruitment team, Sorloth is a specialist centre-forward. No false-nine reinvention, no wide-forward conversion. He lives in central areas, occupies centre-backs, and gives managers a clear reference point in the box. Those close to the process believe he fits the profile United are chasing: someone who can genuinely compete with Sesko for starts and also accept spells as an impact option.
From the player’s side, the door is open. Sorloth is understood to be open to leaving Atletico and would welcome another crack at the Premier League. His previous spell in England, with Crystal Palace between January 2018 and September 2020, never really caught fire. He played only 20 times for the Eagles, spending long stretches out on loan at Gent and Trabzonspor.
A move to Old Trafford would offer a very different stage and a second chance to prove he belongs in English football’s top tier.
Atletico’s stance and the wider striker dominoes
Atletico’s position is pragmatic. Sorloth’s contract runs until June 2028, so they are under no pressure to sell on paper. Yet they are prepared to let him go for the right price, on one clear condition: a replacement must be lined up first.
Their own striker plans add another layer to the story. Atletico are looking at Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus and Juventus forward Jonathan David as possible arrivals. Any progress there could loosen their grip on Sorloth and accelerate talks with interested clubs such as United.
All this plays out against a restless backdrop in Madrid. While Sorloth weighs his future, his team-mate Julian Alvarez is being chased by Barcelona and Arsenal. Atletico insist Alvarez is not for sale, but the forward has publicly stated his desire to leave, a stance that has angered sections of the Rojiblancos support and added tension around Diego Simeone’s attacking options.
United’s late-window calculation
Inside Old Trafford, there is an acceptance that another striker may have to arrive before the window slams shut, especially if Zirkzee departs. On the Talk of the Devils podcast, Laurie Whitwell summed up the likely route.
“Loan is what I have heard in terms of incoming,” he said, hinting at a cautious approach to permanent fees after a heavy outlay on Baleba.
Andy Mitten echoed the sense that movement is increasingly likely.
“Will we see new players come in? I think it’s increasing, I think it’s a possibility. I don’t know if the player would be signed or loaned. If you lose a striker, United look light up top.”
That is the crux of it. With Sesko the clear first-choice No 9, United cannot afford to go into the heart of the season with a soft underbelly behind him. Sorloth, with his frame, experience and readiness to step into the Premier League spotlight again, offers one solution.
Now United must decide: do they gamble on a short-term fix, or lean into Sorloth as a powerful, long-term foil for Sesko in a new-look attack?
