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Manchester United began the USA leg of their pre-season with the same theme that dominated the last season- injuries.

Rasmus Hojlund and Leny Yoro hobbled off in the first half against Arsenal due to injuries and fans face a nervous wait about their condition.

It also brought back into focus a message Erik ten Hag has been hammering into his squad, that depth is necessary and it will be “survival of the fittest”.

Especially in attack, where Joshua Zirkzee arrived but he effectively was a replacement for Anthony Martial, albeit a more available one.

One injury and United are back to having a sole center-forward in the Dutchman, as it stands. They have been linked to other names, one of them being Ivan Toney. Here’s the latest update on United’s stance on the transfer.

Ivan Toney to Man United latest

With his contract expiring next summer, Toney represents a good opportunity in the transfer market. At 28, he is in the prime of his career, has Premier League experience, and is a proven goalscorer.

There have been murmurs that Toney is also not warm to the idea of signing an extension, which means this summer is Brentford’s best chance to get a respectable fee for him.

Cue United and other Premier League clubs circling, although United’s need became less dire after Zirkzee’s arrival.

Now, Florian Plettenberg reports that United consider Zirkzee and Hojlund to be the future so there are no concrete talks with Brentford at this stage.

United have other priorities in the market right now and will focus on getting those over the line, with Toney not in their current plans.

Man United’s financial worries

It can be argued that while this stance makes sense, United are in a precarious position for strikers. It is only their financial worries with Financial Fair Play and Profit and Sustainability Rules that are preventing them from being more proactive.

They are already in a “sell to buy” mode after securing two signings, despite both being on installments over a number of years instead of one-term payments.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe said earlier that the task to rebuild the club is not a short-term one, and Ten Hag has also echoed that it will take multiple transfer windows to streamline the team.

Toney would have been a no-brainer acquisition for any club with United’s squad makeup as it currently stands but due to the position they are in right now, they are having to prioritise due to lack of resources.

It will take a few years to climb out of the Glazer-shaped hole in the finances!

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