Man United should have signed a big-name striker — Super Eagles legend doubts Joshua Zirkzee's quality

Super Eagles legend Victor Ikpeba has expressed reservations over Manchester United’s acquisition of Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna, despite the striker scoring a match-winner on his debut. 

Pulse Sports reported that Manchester United signed the Dutch-Nigerian striker from I Rossoblu for a €42.5 million fee. Zirkzee came off the bench in his Premier League debut and scored the solitary goal to help the Red Devils triumph over Fulham. 

This feat did not leave legendary striker Ikpeba impressed, however, as he believes the Red Devils were better served getting a forward of a different profile type. 

The ‘Prince of Monaco’ now uses all the knowledge acquired over his 16-year career to provide insight into the game for viewers in his current profession as a pundit. 

Ikpeba is a main feature on SuperSports’ Monday Night Football, and in a recent episode, he analysed the signing of Zirkzee. The Atlanta 96 champion appreciates Zirkzee's scoring on his debut, as he believes it will do a world of good for his confidence; however, he does not think the Dutch striker can score up to 20 league goals a season. 

Ikpeba submitted that the Red Devils should have gone for a striker that can guarantee those many goals a season—one that is as tall and dominant as Brentford’s Ivan Toney. 

“We don’t judge players in their first games. It’s good for his confidence,” Ikpeba said on the show. “Signing a big-name striker will be helpful, as a striker who can score twenty goals in a season and has that consistency up front. 

“They need something different, like Ivan Toney. I think he has ‘issues’ with Brentford. If they can go for him, that would be good for Manchester United. He’s a tall lad, and he bothers defenders. He’s very good aerially and technically with the ball. He can take on defenders. That would be a plus for the team if they can go for him.”

Zirkzee only managed 11 league goals in his 34 Serie A games for Bologna last season and has referred to himself as a 9½, a different profile from an out-and-out centre-forward Ikpeba believes is ideal.