Manchester United I made it An impressive start to 2025. The Red Devils are yet to lose, having drawn against Liverpool in the Premier League and Arsenal in the FA Cup, which they won on penalties. Recently, Robin Amorim The team beat its guest Southampton 3-1, and occupies last place in the English Premier League.
The star of the show was Imad. The Ivorian scored the equalizer at Anfield, scored a penalty kick against Arsenal, and most recently scored a hat-trick against the Saints in the 12th minute from the 82nd to the 94th minute to get his team the three points.
However, United clearly feel that Imad cannot shoulder the responsibility alone, given they are said to be targeting an attacking addition.
Man United are targeting a new striker
The player in question here is Borussia Dortmund winger Jimmy Gittins. The Englishman, who is yet to play for his country, has been impressive for the German side this season and is now a target for some of Europe's biggest clubs.
According to a report from Florian PlettenbergAccording to reports from Sky Sports, the Red Devils are believed to be 'seriously interested' in making a move to sign the 20-year-old, with a move in the summer potentially on the cards.
However, they are not the only side interested in signing him. United are set to go head-to-head with German giants Bayern Munich, and Gittins remains a “key transfer target” for the Bundesliga side.
Plettenberg adds that the former Manchester City youngster is likely to become available if Dortmund fail to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Why signing Gittens would be good
It has been an impressive season so far for former Manchester City academy player Gittens. The 20-year-old has become a regular starter for Dortmund this season, scoring 11 goals and providing five assists. In 26 matches For the club.
This includes an impressive four goals and one assist in six Champions League matches. The winger scored away to Real Madrid in the 5-2 defeat, but he actually made it 2-0 for Dortmund in that time, running to the back post and getting on the end of Donyell Malen's cross.
It is clear to see why Description of Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulej Gittens As a “pure difference maker.” As Amad does for United, the Dortmund star is someone who can score a big goal or help change his team's game. The goal at the Bernabéu is a perfect example of this.
In fact, it could be the ideal long-term alternative to Marcus Rashford. It appears his time at United may be over Plettenberg reported Thursday Dortmund and Milan have shown interest in the winger.
If United look at Gittins as a replacement for Rashford, Dortmund's No.43 will have to put in an impressive performance if he is to match the Wythenshawe-born star's numbers. United's number 10 has scored 138 goals and provided 63 assists In 426 matches For the club.
To get an idea of how good a replacement Gittens is for Rashford, statistical comparisons can be made. These statistics are for the pair FBref numbers From 2021/22, the Dortmund winger's first season, until the 2024/25 season.
You can clearly see how good the Gittens ball carrier is. Per 90 minutes, he averages 5.41 progressive movements, compared to Rashford's 3.06. He also averages slightly more key passes per game, with 1.10, compared to 0.94 for the United star. However, Rashford tops the goals per 90 minutes chart, with a rate of 0.39 compared to Gittens' 0.34.
|
Comparing Gittens and Rashford's stats between 2021/22 and 2024/25 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
State (per 90) |
Geten |
Rashford |
|
Holds progressivism |
5.41 |
3.06 |
|
Key passes |
1.10 |
0.94 |
|
Objectives |
0.34 |
0.39 |
|
Snapshot creation procedures |
3.43 |
2.95 |
|
Retrieve the ball |
3.12 |
3.04 |
|
Statistics from FBref |
||
Gittins certainly looks like he would be an excellent replacement for Rashford if the United academy graduate leaves Old Trafford, given the quality he can provide as a ball-carrier, creator and goalscorer down the left flank.
He is statistically capable of holding his own against the United star and, at the right price, could be a great signing as a long-term replacement for Rashford.