Manchester United have reportedly agreed a loan deal with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr for striker Vincent Aboubakar.
The striker, 30, shone at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as he captained Cameroon and scored two goals in three matches, most notably the winner against Brazil in the group stages. He has netted four goals in 12 games so far this season, but Al-Nassr are prepared to leave the experienced striker on loan after completing an eye-watering move for Cristiano Ronaldo.
According to Saudi outlet OKAZ, Manchester United have reached an agreement with Al-Nassr to sign Vincent Aboubakar on loan for the rest of the season. Alongside Man United, Turkish giants Fenerbahce also retain an interest and have also made an offer to the Cameroon international.
Aboubakar, formerly of FC Porto and Besiktas, joined Al-Nassr in 2021 and has gone on to score 13 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions for the Saudi club. Now that he has agreed to join Man United, the 30-year-old’s move to Old Trafford could help Al-Nassr to register Cristiano Ronaldo, who had to sit out his new club’s 2-0 win over Al-Ta’ee as he watched on from the directors’ box, the report adds.
Vincent Aboubakar to Man United—Is he a good choice?
Manchester United are eager to sign a new striker this month with Erik ten Hag hopeful the club can bring in another option with his side still fighting on four fronts this season. Following Cristiano Ronaldo’s acrimonious exit, Ten Hag has been left with Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford as his only striker options.
While Rashford has been in sensational form this season and is the club’s top scorer with 13 goals in all formats, his preferred role is on the left. Martial, meanwhile, again has had fitness concerns and was limited to just three starts in all competitions prior to the World Cup.
Al-Nassr’s Vincent Aboubakar has emerged as a target for the Red Devils, who booked a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday evening by beating Everton 3-1 at home. Should a move for Aboubakar to Man United go through, he would likely come in for six months as a short-term solution to a troublesome problem, similar to that of Odion Ighalo arriving from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua in January 2021.
Aboubakar has no previous experience of playing in the Premier League but having turned out for clubs such as FC Porto and Besiktas in Europe could help him in adapting to the demands and high pressure of English football. The Cameroonian is a ruthless finisher in front of goal, while his aerial ability and physicality should give a different dimension to the United attack.
All in all, signing Aboubakar on loan until the end of the season could boost the Red Devils’ hopes for a top-four finish this season.