Big Six Club Eye €22m Bundesliga Striker

The Croatian striker is 23 years old and had a genuinely impressive 2025/26 campaign at Freiburg. He made 50 appearances across all competitions, contributing 15 goals and four assists.

In the Bundesliga alone, he delivered 11 goals and two assists from 31 appearances, adding three more goals in 15 Europa League outings. He played a crucial role in their European campaign last season, when they reached the final of the Europa League.

That is a tally that does the talking on its own. He also made three appearances for Croatia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup before Zlatko Dalic’s side went out in the round of 16 to Portugal, so he has had a taste of the biggest stage too.

Does Michael Carrick really need Igor Matanovic to Manchester United?

Yes, and the argument stacks up cleanly when you look at what United’s attack actually looks like right now. Benjamin Sesko is the first-choice number nine.

That is fine. The problem is the complete lack of a credible backup. If Zirkzee does go, and that appears increasingly likely, Sesko is left completely on his own at the top. One injury or suspension and United have nothing.

Igor Matanovic to Manchester United resolves that specific problem in a way Zirkzee never did. Being 1.94m tall and 89kg, Matanovic is a genuine aerial threat who ranks in the top 94th percentile for aerial duels won across Bundesliga forwards. His shot conversion rate of 21.57% in the German top flight tells you he is ruthlessly efficient inside the box.

Zirkzee’s habit of dropping into midfield congested United’s transitions, and Carrick couldn’t consistently get the best from him. Matanovic stays higher, pins defenders, brings others into play, and finishes. That vertical presence suits Carrick’s counter-pressing approach far better.

At €22 million for a 23-year-old World Cup striker with these numbers, Manchester United aren’t being asked to break the bank. They need to get Zirkzee out the door first, and if Juventus follow through, Carrick gets the physical, penalty-box spearhead his system genuinely requires.