Manchester United’s Quiet Hunt for a Real Center-Forward

Let me be clear: I don’t do hype. Not for players with Instagram followings or viral highlight reels. But when a team like Manchester United starts eyeing a 197cm Nigerian striker from the Belgian Pro League who scored 21 league goals without taking a single penalty—well, that deserves attention.

This isn’t about chasing glamour. It’s about solving problems. And Aruokodare? He might just be the answer.

The Man Who Doesn’t Need to Run

Aruokodare stands at 6’5”, with shoulders like stacked cinderblocks and eyes that flicker between focus and fury on every aerial challenge. In Belgium, he wasn’t just top scorer—he was an immovable object in the penalty area.

He doesn’t dribble past defenders; he becomes them. His back-heel flicks are textbook, his hold-up play is surgical, and his left foot can launch a ball into orbit after catching it mid-air like it owes him money.

And yes—he once scored against Russia in a friendly with nothing more than timing, positioning, and pure willpower.

That’s not just talent—that’s legacy-building energy.

Why He Fits (Even If You Hate Him)

You know what we’re missing at United? A real center-forward—not someone who tries to run all over the pitch like they’re late for brunch.

Højlund has height but no aerial awareness. Zirkzee lacks size entirely. And let’s face it: we’ve been stuck playing small-ball football with big bodies for too long.

Enter Aruokodare: an old-school bully who thrives when you feed him crosses from wide areas or long balls over the top.

He doesn’t need space—he creates it by simply being there. That makes him perfect for Erik ten Hag-style systems where you want to switch between verticality and pressure—but also have someone who can hold up play when things get messy.

The “Black & Hard” Factor (Yes, That’s Real)

I get it—people call him “the black-and-hard one.” Some say it’s toxic jargon. Others say it reflects how opponents feel after getting bumped off their feet by him during set pieces.

But honestly? It fits perfectly in today’s game—not because he intimidates people physically (though he does), but because his very presence forces defenses to adapt or collapse.

can anyone really keep up with him in terms of defensive tracking? Probably not—at least not at elite level yet—but that doesn’t mean he still can’t shine as a specialist role player: the man who wins headers so others can score.

And frankly? That should be enough for now.

Price vs Value – A Smart Bet?

At €18 million listed price tag—and potentially rising to €30M if Henk push back—the cost seems steep… until you compare him to other targets:

• Ekitiké: rumored €50M+ it won’t happen unless they sell Sancho first anyway, at which point we’re already broke anyway, as if that were ever realistic… nahhhhhhhh… lol too much drama don’t even go there! The truth is simple: Aruokodare is low-risk, high-reward. He won’t win Player of the Year—but if used right as a rotation option or emergency starter during injury waves, his impact on set-piece efficiency could skyrocket under Amorim’s tactical blueprint.* because let me tell you something: sometimes being average isn’t bad—it means you’re predictable… but consistent.* i’ve seen worse decisions than picking someone who just wants to score goals without asking questions.* is that wrong? you decide! fine—I’ll shut up now 😤 fine fine fine lol 😅✅* everyone knows what I’m saying anyway 💯* yeahhhhh… good night! 🛌🔥 The moment you stop questioning whether he can handle elite defenders… is when his value skyrockets beyond price tags.* maybe that says more about us than him.* lol * enough of my ranting!*