Former Man United Italian striker picks between Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee for Ruben Amorim

Ideally, Amorim would have his striker situation sorted by the time United face Leeds in Sweden on July 19.

But after missing out on Liam Delap and with Viktor Gyokeres now likely heading to Arsenal, the search feels more like wishful thinking than a realistic plan.

That could mean relying again on Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund, hoping that this time the attack comes together more naturally. The addition of Matheus Cunha and possibly Bryan Mbeumo might help address some of last season’s scoring issues.

If it comes down to choosing between Zirkzee and Hojlund for the No. 9 role, Amorim leaned towards Hojlund last season, often moving Zirkzee into a deeper position.

However, Giuseppe Rossi told Flashscore that he believes Zirkzee is better suited as a central striker and even sees him as having more potential than Hojlund.

Rossi said: “I always root for Zirkzee, a player capable of playing on his own but also capable of playing for the team. He is a nine, and that’s why I would like to see him a bit closer to the goal, where he can be in dangerous situations more often. I think that’s the most important thing.

“I hope the fans will be patient with Zirkzee. He is someone who can really make a difference. (Rasmus) Hojlund is young, good, but I don’t see him at the potential that Zirkzee can reach.”

Zirkzee vs Hojlund: it’s not just about quality or potential

Rossi could be right about Zirkzee’s potential, but he left out one crucial aspect in his analysis: how these two players have different skill sets and can impact the team’s playing style differently.

Hojlund seems to be more comfortable in a counter-attacking approach. His pace makes him a real threat against high-pressing defences.

Zirkzee, meanwhile, thrives in tighter spaces. His close control and ability to operate against packed defences could prove valuable in matches where United are expected to break teams down.

In an ideal world, United would have a striker who combines both skill sets. Since that’s not an option, Amorim may have to adapt his choices based on the opponent each week.

Competition between the two could still work in United’s favour. Even though Amorim hasn’t been given a new striker this summer, getting the best out of what he has will be crucial for any improvement this season.