Manchester United have identified Brentford striker Igor Thiago as a surprise target in their summer search for another forward, with any move likely to hinge on a departure at Old Trafford. The 24-year-old has emerged as a name on a list that is still taking shape, but he is already being watched as a possible solution if Joshua Zirkzee leaves.
The interest is notable because United want more competition for Benjamin Sesko, and the club’s next striker business is not expected to be cheap. Brentford are believed to want £70m for Thiago, a figure that would make him a major investment even for a side preparing a broad rebuild under INEOS and said to be ready to spend around £200m this summer.
Thiago’s case is built on form as much as reputation. He finished last season as the Premier League’s second top scorer with 22 goals in 38 games, an output that has put him firmly into the frame despite the fact United are said to be leaning toward an older, more experienced profile up front. Ben Jacobs said the club are only now beginning to examine that part of the market, with Thiago one of the few exceptions if Zirkzee moves on.
That is where the deal becomes complicated. United are open to allowing Zirkzee to leave, and a return to Serie A has been mooted for the Dutch forward. Without that sale, there is little room for a move on a striker who is still only 24 and would arrive carrying a fee that sits far above a standard squad addition. United are also looking at midfield and left-back reinforcements, which only increases the pressure on how they use their budget.
Thiago, though, is not being judged only on one good season. He has scored 90 goals for club and country across his senior career, has two goals in three appearances against United for Brentford, and has the same return for Brazil in his three caps so far. He has also earned a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad, which has added to the sense that his rise is being tracked beyond west London.
For United, the question is no longer whether they need another centre-forward. It is whether they are prepared to sell Zirkzee and pay Brentford’s price for a striker who fits the brief in goals, but not yet in age or experience. If both conditions are met, Thiago could move from surprise target to serious summer deal very quickly.
