Dwight Yorke believes Manchester United should turn to Premier League rivals Liverpool as they look to replace £72m flop Rasmus Hojlund.
Hojlund had a somewhat promising first season at Old Trafford following his big-money move from Atalanta in 2023, scoring 16 goals in all competitions.
But the Denmark international has endured an incredibly difficult 2024-25 campaign, contributing just two goals in the Premier League.
Yorke fears Hojlund is ‘not even close’ to being a ‘future number nine’ for Manchester United and expects his former club to address the problem this summer.
United are one of a number of clubs who have been linked with Newcastle striker Alexander Isak but Yorke cannot see the Swedish star wanting to join the Red Devils over the likes of Arsenal or Liverpool.
Instead, Yorke says Manchester United should ‘take a punt’ on Darwin Nunez, who is expected to leave Liverpool in the summer.
Liverpool signed Nunez from Benfica in 2022 in a deal that could end up costing £85m but the 25-year-old has flattered to deceive at Anfield.
Reds boss Arne Slot recently criticised Nunez not just for a glaring miss in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa but also his response to the incident.
Given Nunez’s situation at Liverpool, Yorke believes he will be put up for sale this summer and has told Manchester United to take a ‘serious look at him’.
‘I would be brave, and take a look at Darwin Nunez, if Liverpool make him available,’ Yorke told CasinoBeats when asked who United should consider signing.
‘He’s got a little roughness around the edges. United need somebody up there who can be the top man – they’re missing a player who’s got that believe and confidence. Who’s got that swagger to be the main man at Man United.
‘I would take a punt on that guy. He’s still 25. He’s got a physical presence not too many people have.
‘You’re not going to get Isak. He would look at Man United and might think about it if they come in, but he will want to go to Liverpool or maybe Arsenal, but if Liverpool want you with what’s happening there, it’s an easy choice to make.
‘The transfer market is a game of chess. Moves open up opportunities. Nunez could be on the market if Liverpool look to bring in a forward this summer.
‘If they sign, one someone’s got to be offloaded to balance the books. If they’re going to offload Nunez, I will say to United take a serious look at him.’
On current first-choice Manchester United striker Hojlund, Yorke added: ‘Even if you’re a prospect, you’ve got to show why you’re a prospect.
‘Hojlund, I’m yet to see anything that suggests he’s the future number nine for Manchester United. He’s not even close.
‘You defend people as best you can, you give people a chance, but he’s been there for nearly two seasons. It’s not going to get any better than that.
‘You’re buying prospects for £72m? That’s insane. In the summer, that’s probably an area that they’ll be looking at. They must be looking at it, as will a lot of clubs.’
Nunez attracted interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia during the January transfer window but Liverpool blocked him from leaving ahead of a crucial period in which Slot could lift Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup trophies.
Slot is expected to bring in some of his own new signings in the summer, however, and Nunez’s long-term future at Anfield is uncertain.
Last week, ex-Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann suggested Nunez would have been an ideal January signing for Liverpool’s Premier League title rivals Arsenal.
The Gunners have been rocked by an injury crisis in recent weeks which has left Mikel Arteta with just three fit recognised forwards.
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