“We’ve spent years looking for our own version of Haaland, and he’s been right under our noses in the Premier League. He is the only striker in the world right now putting up the same ‘inhuman’ numbers.” Manchester United have officially opened talks for a £71m deal to sign the striker who is currently breathing down Haaland’s neck at the top of the scoring charts! 🤯🔴

In a development that sends a chill through every Premier League defence, Manchester United have officially opened talks to sign the one striker in world football currently matching Erling Haaland’s “inhuman” numbers. The player? A relentless goal machine who has been hiding in plain sight—and he’s coming to Old Trafford.

**”We’ve spent years looking for our own version of Haaland, and he’s been right under our noses in the Premier League. He is the only striker in the world right now putting up the same ‘inhuman’ numbers.”**

That verdict, delivered with the weight of years of failed striking searches, captures the magnitude of what United are attempting. After a decade of false dawns and expensive disappointments, they have identified the one man who can go toe-to-toe with Manchester City’s cyborg—and he’s been terrorising defences just a few miles away.

## The Target: Igor Thiago, the 17-Goal Sensation

The striker in question is Brentford’s Igor Thiago, the 24-year-old Brazilian who has taken the Premier League by storm in his debut season . With **17 goals in 26 Premier League appearances**, Thiago sits second in the Golden Boot race, a staggering **five goals clear of the chasing pack** and breathing directly down Haaland’s neck at the summit of the scoring charts .

Those aren’t just “good” numbers. They’re **elite, world-class, Haaland-tier numbers**. In any other season, a 17-goal haul by February would have him leading the line for the Premier League’s best. Only the freakish consistency of the Norwegian keeps him from top spot .

The fee being discussed? **£71 million**—the exact figure United paid Brentford last summer for Bryan Mbeumo . The symmetry is unmistakable: having plundered the Bees for one attacking sensation, United are returning to the same well for the final piece of their jigsaw.

## The Numbers That Don’t Lie

Let’s put Thiago’s achievement in perspective. **17 goals by mid-February** puts him on pace for a 25+ goal season, the kind of return that wins Golden Boots in any normal campaign . He has already surpassed the totals of established stars like Ollie Watkins, Alexander Isak, and even United’s own Bryan Mbeumo, who has 9 goals in his debut Old Trafford season .

His performances have been so remarkable that he was named **Premier League Player of the Month in November**, when he plundered five goals in four matches . Since then, he has maintained that relentless pace, establishing himself not as a flash in the pan but as a genuine, sustained elite talent .

Manchester City, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich are all monitoring his situation, with City’s director of football Hugo Viana personally conducting due diligence on the Brazilian . The competition is fierce, but United have moved first and moved decisively.

## The “Our Own Haaland” Philosophy

The framing of this move is crucial. United are not simply buying a goalscorer; they are **acquiring the means to compete with City on their own terms**. For years, the gap between the two Manchester clubs has been defined by the presence of a freakish, game-breaking No.9 at the Etihad. United have cycled through strikers—some good, some promising, none transcendent.

Thiago changes that equation. At 24, he combines:

– **Physical dominance**: The archetypal “number 9” presence, capable of occupying centre-backs and creating space
– **Relentless finishing**: 17 goals from open play and penalties, with the composure of a veteran
– **Premier League proven**: No adaptation risk, no “settling in” period—he’s already doing it against English defences
– **Peak trajectory**: Entering his prime years, with his best football ahead of him

## The Brentford Connection

The £71m fee is notable for another reason: it’s exactly what United paid for Mbeumo . The Cameroon international has been a revelation at Old Trafford, contributing 10 goals and two assists in 22 appearances, and his success has clearly emboldened United to return to the Brentford market .

There is a pattern here. Brentford have become the Premier League’s premier finishing school for elite attacking talent. United, under INEOS, have recognised that paying a premium for proven Premier League quality is preferable to gambling on unproven imports. The Bees have done the hard work of identifying and developing Thiago; United are ready to reap the rewards.

## The Competition and The Obstacle

Brentford, however, will not make this easy. The Bees recently handed Thiago a **new contract**, and sources describe the club as “over the moon” with their prize asset . A well-placed source told TEAMtalk: **”Thiago is a great footballer but also a great presence around the place. He and his people know about the interest, of course, but they are not pushing for a move in the short or medium-term. He is very happy at Brentford and believes he can achieve all his immediate goals with them”** .

This is the obstacle United must overcome. Thiago is not agitating for a move; he is content, settled, and thriving. To prise him from the Gtech Community Stadium will require not just the £71m fee but a compelling vision of why Old Trafford represents the next logical step in his journey.

## The Carrick Factor

Michael Carrick’s presence as interim manager—and likely permanent appointment—is a significant asset in this pursuit. The United legend has rebuilt the team around a coherent attacking philosophy, with Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes thriving in a system that creates chances and rewards movement .

For a striker like Thiago, who feeds on service and intelligent interplay, the prospect of playing in that system—with Fernandes providing the ammunition from midfield and Mbeumo occupying defenders alongside him—is tantalising. The “New Bruno” and the “Haaland hunter” could form a partnership to terrify the Premier League for years.

## The Summer Ahead

United have opened talks. The fee is established. The player’s representatives are aware of the interest . Now begins the delicate work of convincing a happy, settled, thriving striker that his future lies away from west London.

The stakes could not be higher. Arsenal and Chelsea lurk, ready to pounce if United falter . Manchester City, with their gravitational pull and Haaland’s presence, could yet enter the race in earnest. And Brentford, armed with a new contract and a player who loves the club, will fight to keep their crown jewel.

But United have the advantage of movement. They have opened the door. They have identified their “own Haaland.” And in a summer that will define the next era of Manchester United, signing the most prolific striker in the league outside the Etihad would be the ultimate statement of intent.

The hunt is on. The target is in sight. And at Old Trafford, the search for a goalscorer to match City’s machine may finally be over. 🤯🔴⚡