Forwards on the Market: Who are the Best Options?
The transfer market is once again dominated by rumors about strikers. All the major clubs, with the exception of Manchester City thanks to the presence of Erling Haaland, seem to be looking for a “9”. What are the best options available and what clubs could be their ideal destinations?Arsenal
Benjamin Sesko, 22 years old, RB Leipzig
Sesko seems to fit perfectly at Arsenal, and the club has had him on their radar for some time. However, the prolonged negotiation over a possible 70 million euro transfer raises questions. With his height (1.95 meters), mobility, and technique, he offers both a target for the game and a threat in defense, making him an ideal option for a team looking to add more verticality. His powerful and precise shots (an average of 3.09 per game last season) stand out among forwards under 23, while his associative play has improved. Although he is not yet a finished product, he combines presence with promise and would add a much-needed “9” profile to Mikel Arteta’s attack. For a club so careful with hiring, Sesko represents a logical move with few drawbacks. Most scouts agree that Arsenal would get one of the most promising young strikers at the moment.Alternative: Nick Woltemade, 23 years old, Stuttgart
In his debut season, Woltemade scored 10 goals in the Bundesliga from January and then burst onto the international scene with a sensational U21 European Championship for Germany, where he finished as the tournament’s top scorer (6 goals), recorded the most assists (3) and key passes (3.0 per game). His overall offensive skills are impressive, but with a height exceeding Sesko’s (1.98 meters), Woltemade is noticeably less mobile, which limits his threat in transitions. Furthermore, curiously for someone of his size, he only won 33% of his aerial duels in 2024-25, 17% less than Sesko (50%). That said, his recent goalscoring performance and his remarkable shooting accuracy (62% of his attempts go on target) have sparked the interest of some major clubs, especially Bayern Munich, for a possible transfer of 60 million euros.Chelsea
Hugo Ekitike, 23 years old, Eintracht Frankfurt
Although Chelsea have signed Liam Delap and agreed a £60 million deal for João Pedro, as well as having Nicolas Jackson, their desire to add more young forwards seems to have no end. Ekitike has established himself as one of the most interesting young center forwards in Europe. Now at Eintracht Frankfurt after a relatively discreet departure from Paris Saint-Germain, the 22-year-old has begun to rediscover the sharpness that made him a star at Reims and scored 22 goals in 48 games last season. Tall (1.90 meters), fast and fluid in his movements, Ekitike combines explosive acceleration with intelligent runs, especially standing out against high lines and disorganized defenses. Near the area, he times his movements well and instinctively finds space. He has also gained confidence in dropping to link up in the game, and his technical finesse in tight spaces is improving. However, Ekitike is more dangerous when facing the goal and entering the attacking third, where his finishing instinct and desire to score are a real threat. Eintracht knows how important he is, as they are asking for £80 million for any transfer.Alternative: Emanuel Emegha, 22 years old, Strasbourg
As a Chelsea affiliate club, Strasbourg could offer the Blues a direct path to sign Emegha if other targets fail. The right-footed Dutch U21 striker may still be a bit inexperienced to jump headfirst into the Premier League, but he enjoyed a standout campaign in Ligue 1, scoring 14 goals. Standing at 1.95 meters, Emegha combines an imposing presence and above-average technical skills with surprising speed, recording a top speed of 36.5 km/h this season. He performs well in matches with many transitions, using long strides to stretch defenses and, although he is still perfecting his back-to-goal play, he boasts a great goalscoring instinct, with a shot accuracy of 54% that speaks to his efficiency.
Juventus
Victor Osimhen, 26 years old, Galatasaray (on loan from Napoli)
Despite his problems with Napoli and being loaned to Galatasaray, Osimhen remains one of the most sought-after center forwards in Europe, with an impressive mix of athleticism, lethal finishing (0.62 non-penalty goals per game last season), and precise off-the-ball movements. Tactically, the Nigerian international excels both in transition and against low blocks, exploiting the space behind defenses with good timing of his runs and explosive speed, but his intelligence also allows him to find the right gaps in a congested area. He is strong in aerial duels (3.2 successful per game) and effectively links up play when necessary. Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Al Hilal and Galatasaray (on a permanent deal) are interested, but a return to Serie A could offer both familiarity and immediate tactical adaptation. He remains a very attractive player for teams that need a direct and high-impact “9”, and Juve could benefit.Alternative: Jonathan David, 25 years old, Lille
After choosing to leave Lille on a free transfer this summer, sources have said that David is increasingly close to joining Juventus. A proven goalscorer in Ligue 1, he has scored 87 goals in 174 matches and combines precise movements with clinical finishing. However, doubts persist about his suitability to act as a lone “9” striker, especially in systems that require strong hold-up play. And those doubts don’t exist with Osimhen. Even so, David’s speed, his intelligent runs, and his hunter instincts in the penalty area almost guarantee double-digit figures in terms of goals and his consistency makes him one of the most interesting free agents on the market, so it’s not a gamble for Juve.Liverpool
Alexander Isak, 25 years old, Newcastle United
Adding Isak (second in the Premier League’s top scorer table last season with 23 goals) to a Liverpool attack that already has Mohamed Salah (who finished first with 29) and the new 100-million-pound signing, attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, would elevate the champions to new heights. Based on last season’s statistics, Isak ranks among the elite in every key metric: 4.97 touches in the opposing area per game, among the top four in shots on goal (46) and 0.84 goal contributions per game, the best in the league. Although not necessarily known for his defensive work, the Swedish international has matured into a more complete center forward at Newcastle. But that has come at a cost and any club would have to shell out around 150 million pounds to convince the Magpies to accept an offer, given that his contract extends until 2028.Alternative: Jonathan Burkardt, 24 years old, FC Mainz
More of a classic goalscorer than a modern “9”, Burkardt has sparked the interest of the best clubs in Europe after an exceptional season with Mainz. The 23-year-old scored 18 goals, wore the captain’s armband on occasion and played a key role in Mainz’s surprising qualification for the UEFA Conference League. His game is based on intelligent off-the-ball movements, excellent right-footed shooting technique, fervent pressing, sharp positional instincts and a strange ability to get to the right area at the right time. Although his top speed (32.3 km/h) does not make him a penetrating striker, Burkardt compensates with intelligent anticipation and ingenious aerial play. He is a specialist in finding spaces and punishing defensive disorganization.
Manchester United
Viktor Gyökeres, 27 years old, Sporting CPWith 68 goals in 66 league games for Sporting, Gyökeres has become one of the most talked-about strikers in Europe and a summer exit seems inevitable. Naturally, Manchester United has become a possible destination, partly due to his obvious relationship with the coach who unleashed his prolific talent at Sporting: Ruben Amorim. Although they are also looking to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford and have already added Matheus Cunha. Gyökeres offers much more than finishing ability. He led all Portuguese forwards in successful tackles last season (3.36 per game), highlighting his explosiveness in and around the attacking area. His link-up play is intelligent and fluid, allowing him to drop into zones or combine with his teammates in tight spaces, while his mobility and intensity belie his 1.88-meter height. At 27 years old, the Swedish international has taken a few years to get his career off the ground. But few can match him in form, goalscoring ability, physique and technical perfection at this moment. And Amorim already knows that he can fit perfectly into his 3-4-2-1 formation in the forward line.Alternative: Samu Aghehowa, 21 years old, FC Porto
Samu signed for Atletico Madrid from Granada in 2023, but never played for the first team and spent a year on loan at Alaves, where he caught attention. Chelsea were close to signing him for 40 million euros in 2024 until a last-minute problem thwarted the deal. He ended up signing for FC Porto, where he enjoyed a promising debut campaign, finishing in second place in the Primeira Liga goalscoring chart with 19 goals (still 20 behind Gyökeres). Although his form dipped slightly in the second half of the season, the profile of the 21-year-old player is that of a traditional “9”: powerful, direct, and dominant in aerial play. Winning 45% of his aerial duels, his vertical jump, heading technique, and timing make him a constant threat on crosses. But he is also increasingly skilled at using his body to protect the ball and shield defenders, making him a valuable outlet for playing with his back to the goal.Although not as dynamic as Gyökeres, Samu’s mobility is more than adequate and his associative play is improving. United are looking for a physical presence in the penalty area, so the Spanish international offers an interesting alternative with the important advantage of being five years younger.
