Manchester United have discussed a €22m, 23-year-old striker Igor Matanović as a frontline option, with Zirkzee‘s future unresolved.
Igor Matanović to Manchester United: the report
Igor Matanović to Manchester United has emerged as a name to watch after Ben Jacobs reported that United have discussed the SC Freiburg centre-forward as an option. The report says the Croatia international could become relevant if Zirkzee leaves before the transfer deadline, although no departure has been guaranteed. Real Betis have been linked with Matanović, too.
Matanović, 23, stands 1.94m tall and has 12 Croatia caps and two goals. Transfermarkt lists his market value at €22m, while Freiburg signed him from Eintracht Frankfurt for €6.7m in July 2025. His 2025/26 campaign supplied the reason for the attention: 15 goals and four assists in 50 appearances. He scored 11 Bundesliga goals with two assists, added three goals and one assist in the Europa League, then contributed once with one assist in the DFB-Pokal.
Igor Matanović to Manchester United: Why the profile makes sense
For United, Igor Matanović to Manchester United makes footballing sense because the striker offers a different problem for defenders. His 6ft 4in frame gives the attack a target, yet his numbers suggest more than a static penalty-box presence. He regained possession 145 times and won 69 ground duels in the Bundesliga, while 11 goals came from 9.14 expected goals. That gap matters: he finished above the chances he received.
Freiburg’s early-season selection decisions limited his starts, but his later contribution became harder to ignore. He scored against Genk and Celta Vigo during Freiburg’s run to the Europa League final. His 71% passing accuracy isn’t especially slick, and that remains a fair reservation.
Igor Matanović to Manchester United: The risk worth taking
Still, United need tactical variety, and Igor Matanović to Manchester United would give Michael Carrick a physical reference point that the current frontline lacks. His defensive activity shows he can contribute after possession changes, rather than simply waiting for crosses.
Read: Manchester United face €50m dilemma over teenage winger
At €22m, the valuation looks sensible beside the fees attached to elite forwards. He is 23, has handled Bundesliga football and a deep Europa League run, and his Croatia involvement included World Cup knockout action against Portugal. That isn’t proof he’ll score freely in England. It is enough evidence to justify the gamble, especially if Zirkzee goes. If United want a striker who changes the shape of an attack without swallowing their budget, this is a move worth consideration.
