Manchester United are among a host of clubs reportedly chasing the signature of VfB Stuttgart hitman Sasa Kalajdzic.
According to Manuel Veth of Transfermarkt, the Red Devils are set to face stiff competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City, as well as German champions Bayern Munich for the Austrian’s services.
The towering frontman has shot into prominence with his displays for Stuttgart over the past couple of seasons. He’s netted 24 times in 57 appearances in all competitions since his arrival from Admira in 2019. A shoulder injury kept him on the sidelines for a large portion of the 2021-22 season, but he still managed six goals and helped his side avoid relegation.
Kalajdzic, who is the Bundesliga’s tallest player at 6’7″, will command a fee of around €30 million as per Kicker (h/t Bulinews). But considering the fact that he has only one year left on his current deal, Stuttgart are not in a position to dictate terms.
Sasa Kalajdzic to Manchester United – A good option?
Manchester United are in the market for a new striker after a dismal 2021-22 season in which they finished sixth and missed out on Champions League football.
The Red Devils’ primary target was reported to be Darwin Nunez, but the Benfica starlet opted for a move to Liverpool, forcing United to shift their focus to other targets.
Last season, Cristiano Ronaldo carried the bulk of the goalscoring burden for United, but with the Portugal international turning 37 earlier this year, the club need a young, hungry striker capable of leading the line for the foreseeable future.
At 6’7″, Kalajdzic is an imposing presence and will add an aerial threat to the United side. But there is a lot more to his game than just physicality. Having started his career as a midfielder, the Austrian has great technical ability and vision, and can play an important role in building attacks. He is also deceptively quick and has the knack of finding pockets of space in between defenders. Last season, he won 4.1 aerial duels per game in the league, while averaging 1.5 key passes and 0.7 dribbles.
The Austrian is a capable finisher and with United having no shortage of creative midfielders and wingers, Kalajdzic will fancy his chances of finding the net on a regular basis at Old Trafford.
At 24, he has yet to hit his prime, and working under a manager like Erik ten Hag could serve to truly unlock his potential.
A move from Stuttgart to Manchester United is a huge step up, but if he can quickly adapt to the demands of English football, he could prove to be a shrewd long-term signing for the Red Devils.