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Former Manchester United star Lee Sharpe doesn’t believe either Rasmus Hojlund or Joshua Zirkzee should be sold this summer even if the club signs Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap.
In an exclusive interview with The Peoples Person, courtesy of Coin Poker, Sharpe identified Delap, 22, as “exactly” the type of signing Ruben Amorim’s side needs, predicting the young Englishman could develop into a “top, top player” at Old Trafford.
But Sharpe rejects the idea that Delap’s arrival could spell the end for one of the existing strikers as it would put too much dependence on the Ipswich striker.
Does Delap signal the end for Hojlund and Zirkzee?
Asked if Hojlund or Zirkzee have long-term futures with United, he states, ” I don’t think either of them can be let go. You can’t go into the season with just one centre-forward in Delap.”
In fact, the Premier League winning winger believes Hojlund could benefit from Delap’s arrival as it would provide help to the Danish international, rather than a hindrance.
“Hojlund needs another season. I think he needs to play less games, in a team that is producing better performances and more chances for him. He needs a foil there…someone to share the load.”
However, Sharpe mirrors Amorim’s assessment that Zirkzee is not an out-and-out striker, despite praising the 23-year-old Dutchman as a “baller” and predicting he will get even better next season.
“I don’t think Zirkzee is a number nine. He can play there when needs be and I’m sure he will have games there when there are suspensions and injuries. Zirkzee is creative, he can go past people, he can score or create goals. I think he needs a run in the team. He’s got some real abilities, and I really hope he stays – I think he’s going to be amazing.”
Elsewhere in the United front line, Sharpe reserved praise for Amad. He describes the Ivorian winger as someone who is “never going to let you down” and an excellent option for Amorim’s system.
“[Amad’s] a really good player to have in the squad because he can play number ten, he can play wing-back. He is never going to let you down, he’ll train hard. He creates chances in whatever position you play him in, but he’ll work up and down that line, defensively and attacking wise.”
Sharpe also believes the number ten role in Amorim’s system “really suits” Kobbie Mainoo and dismisses suggestions that the 20-year-old midfielder has regressed this season. Instead, he identifies injuries and a lack of game time as the cause of Mainoo’s drop in performances compared to his impressive debut campaign.
“With Kobbie it’s injuries and lack of game time. The change of formation has hit him a little bit harder, he’s not played in his usual midfield role. But he’s not had a real good run of game [due to injuries].
“I think [playing] as a number ten really suits him, all the close-knit stuff around the edge of the box. He can beat people, he can see a pass. He’s really creative and really good in tight areas.”
Club captain Bruno Fernandes has single-handedly carried the Red Devils at times this season, despite often being deployed in an unfamiliar position by Amorim, deeper in midfield.
Sharpe contends the Portuguese international’s work-rate almost demands United’s head coach plays him there, even if he lacks positional discipline at times.
“Fernandes’ energy levels dictate that you would play him as a number six in midfield, sat a little bit deeper. But his discipline sometimes puts him out of position, trying to cover everybody else’s place and ran all over the pitch like a headless chicken, so that is the negative of him playing there.”
“You would like to play him as a number ten but he again runs around and wants to do more. The discipline of standing still can be really difficult for him, but he does create chances and he does score goals, so he’s one of those you can’t leave out.”
A Return for Rashford?
The final United attacker Sharpe touched on is one currently absent from Old Trafford.
Marcus Rashford left his boyhood club in January, if only temporarily, to join Aston Villa on loan until the end of the season after a public dispute with Amorim over attitude and application in training.
Since joining Unai Emery’s side, the 27-year-old forward has offered evidence of a return to form, scoring 4 goals and providing 7 assists in 17 games. He has even been reinstated into the England squad by new Three Lions manager, Thomas Tuchel, after an extended absence under Gareth Southgate.
Villa retain a £40 million buy-option to make Rashford’s stay in Birmingham permanent. But there has been no discussions between the clubs over this, while the Carrington graduate continues to be linked with moves abroad.
Sharpe believes Rashford could make a dramatic return to Old Trafford if he can convince the club he is willing to fight for it. But if the same lackadaisical approach is displayed, an exit is in both parties’ best interests.
“If I was owner of Manchester United, I’d be calling Marcus Rashford in and asking him what he wants to make him happy. If he wants to come back to the club and work his socks, fit into the system that the manager wants, and train and play to the standards on and off the pitch that the manager expects, then there’s room for him.”
“If [Rashford] doesn’t want to do that, then he’s got to go elsewhere.”
Featured image Ion Alcoba Beitia via Getty Images
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