Man United's No.9 problem: Guirassy – instant fix or INEOS gamble?

At Craven Cottage, Manchester United's attack was toothless as crosses were repeatedly cleared by Fulham's centre-backs. Benjamin Sesko, signed to solve the No.9 issue, was absent again. He was not fit enough to be named in the squad for the 1-1 draw, leaving the team without a true penalty-box striker. It was a clear sign that squad planning at Old Trafford has failed in a key area. Sesko has been sidelined several times since joining. Before the Fulham match, the medical staff confirmed he was not in optimal condition. A young striker needs rhythm, and constant disruptions harm his adaptation. This has reignited questions about the club's summer decision not to sign a centre-forward. Manchester United trusted Joshua Zirkzee, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha to rotate centrally, but none of them is a natural No.9. Zirkzee drops deep, Mbeumo is a winger, and Cunha plays as a false ten. If Sesko's problem persists, a January move for a striker becomes urgent. Serhou Guirassy has emerged as an option. Manchester United's scouts have tracked the Guinea international since his Stuttgart days. Now at Borussia Dortmund, he remains productive: four goals in six games, including two against Paderborn (one disallowed). His positioning and finishing are impressive. However, the deal is complicated. Guirassy is 30, which does not fit INEOS's youth-first strategy. Last summer, he had a €40 million release clause, but no elite club activated it. Dortmund no longer have to sell cheaply; they can demand a premium, especially because Guirassy and Fabio Silva are building a strong partnership. Looking at his actual performances, Guirassy excels at timing runs into the box and finishing with one touch. He can stretch defenses and would benefit from Bruno Fernandes' through balls. But the Premier League is more physical than the Bundesliga. At United, he would need to press from the front, something Dortmund does not ask of him. The tactical fit is a gamble. There is also the question of squad hierarchy. If Sesko recovers, would Guirassy accept a backup role? Probably not. And Dortmund have no reason to sell during a title race. Man United could wait until summer, when Guirassy's contract has only one year left, but if results worsen, pressure may force them to act in January. This transfer saga reveals a deeper problem: United's forward planning has been reactive. Guirassy could be a short-term fix, but the club must define its long-term identity. The real game starts when a defender leaves his position, and for United, it starts with making a coherent decision about their No.9. Whether that means signing Guirassy or trusting Sesko, the answer lies in the overall structure, not in a single name. As I always say, I don't write to praise a goal, but to show the steps that led to it. Manchester United has been stumbling for too long. Guirassy might score goals, but the club needs more than goals – it needs direction.