1 week Ago By Vatsal Gupta
A big dilemma is facing Ruben Amorim in the Europa League but a serial goalscorer not named Chido Obi in the academy ranks might just have provided the answer.Scoring goals has been a problem for Man Utd all season and Rasmus Hojlund’s struggles personify this problem to a tee. That issue was compounded recently after Joshua Zirkzee’s injury ruled him out for the season, leaving the Dane as the only fit striker in the senior squad.
While it does provide the opportunity for Chido Obi to break out, he’s ineligible for the Europa League which means Hojlund is again the only option in Europe. Or is he?Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty ImagesMan Utd wonderkid can’t stop scoringThe reason why Obi needed to be registered for the Europa League is because he wasn’t a United academy product, arriving from Arsenal in the summer. The same can’t be said for players in the academy, who can be registered in the “B” list and play Europa League games.
United have just the player who can provide a useful option if Hojlund needs to be taken out of the firing line in Europe, as Gabriele Biancheri has reaffirmed his credentials.Biancheri scored again in the U18s 4-4 draw against Everton in the league to take his tally to ten goals in 12 games, for a total of 25 goals games across all competitions and age groups. Biancheri was recently in first-team training after Zirkzee’s injury so Amorim clearly has him in his thoughts as a potential option.
Displays like these will do no harm to his prospects as he could become United’s next debutant out of sheer necessity but one that will be earned too. Gabriele Biancheri can earn himself a loan moveAt 18, this is probably the last season Biancheri should be kept in the academy circuit because he’s already shown he can score goals at that level.A striker needs to be challenged constantly and for Biancheri, senior football needs to be the next challenge.
With United buying a striker, Liam Delap is a target, and Zirkzee’s return next season plus Obi’s continued breakout, the vacancy at Old Trafford is shrinking. The best case for the Welsh hitman would be to earn himself a loan move on the back of good displays in the pre-season and then build his professional career that way. For now, he should look forward to his debut which could arrive in the next five games or so as Amorim tries to keep his team fit for Europe.
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